Curating Grown-Ups’ Keepsakes
Back in April, Colleen wrote about one of my favorite topics, Curating Kids’ Keepsakes. Today, it’s Miss Tara here to talk about doing the same for your own memories and keepsakes! We can all get in our own way when we are trying to decide what to keep and how to keep it.
Before we get into the what and how, I want to share my overarching philosophy on keepsakes. It’s no secret that I think most Americans own too many things. Not just memorabilia, but everything. Household goods, clothing, really anything that is kept in a house. We as a culture have not done a good job at discerning what has value, what is worth purchasing, what is worth storing. We keep things that are “junk,” in the same places we keep family heirlooms, or precious photographs. I have run across this scenario in desks, kitchen drawers, garages, and closets. An old phone book next to a grandmother’s vintage wedding photo!
Why do we do this? Besides lack of time or energy, I believe it’s because we are afraid. We are afraid to waste money and resources. Afraid we will need something “just in case.” (Read about The Minimalists’ approach to just in case items.) Afraid we will forget.
I hate waste probably more than anyone I know, except for our beloved Colleen. I go to great lengths to sell, give away, return, donate, compost, recycle anything that needs to make its way out of my home. Just yesterday, I returned $80 worth of things we didn’t need for my son’s dorm room and it made me feel like a million bucks. I could have hung on to those things (such as 3M strips) “just in case,” but the fact is, Walmart was holding $80 of my cash, in exchange for stuff I don’t have an immediate use for. No thanks, I’ll take the cash back and then if I need 3M strips, I’ll get them when the time comes. So I am for sure WITH you when it comes to not wanting to waste. The difference is that, thanks to twelve years of House Peacing, I’m not afraid—mostly because I say no to more purchases on the front end. I know myself very well and am very slow to buy things that I typically see people get rid of, over and over. So I have the advantage of more decluttering reps than most people. When I do have buyer’s remorse, I won’t lament it as waste, like I used to. I consider it a learning experience, first and foremost. Then I try to recoup whatever I can as far as the cost, if it’s not returnable. If I can’t sell it, that may mean giving the thing to someone who would really love it. I give a lot away to the thrift store, Buy Nothing members, friends, and my daughter. And then I move on. The data I’ve gathered will help me to hopefully make a wiser choice next time.
That’s a lot about waste, I know. What does that have to do with curating your keepsakes? Okay, I’ll keep this part short. (Here’s where we get into the what.)
We should not over-value our memorabilia. If I could do this with you, I’d tell you to get rid of or certainly cull a LOT: certificates, photos you don’t like or wouldn’t want your kids to see, photos of relatives you can’t identify, wedding giveaways (we do not need 50 koozies, I am looking at you, fellow Southerners), trophies for youth sports, doodads that you can’t remember why you kept them, seashells, journals you’re embarrassed about, locks of hair and teeth (please do not save the teeth, for the love), ephemera like menus/receipts/brochures/business cards.
Ask yourself: Do I have a connection to these things? Do I already have a special item to remind me of this event? Do I have room to store this? What would happen if I didn’t keep this thing? What happens if I do?
Here’s what I do think you could keep: photos that you love or are important, handwritten letters/cards that you want to remember, select ticket stubs, articles that you/your loved ones are featured in, an old student ID card. Note that I didn’t say “all” of any one category. “Curation” is the key here! The goal is to be able to go through these keepsakes and have a lovely snapshot of your life that you’ll enjoy going through or showing to your children.
My lists of things to toss or keep are not exhaustive. Use your best judgment, of course! I will always celebrate anyone’s intentional efforts!
Finally, a few ideas on how to store your memorabilia.
Scrapbooking boxes like these (similar to what I use for my family)
12 x 12 scrapbooking box with a pizza-box-style lid
12 x 12 clear plastic document box, stackable
17 x 12 extra elevated memorabilia box, with two color choices (more durable and would look really nice on a shelf)
As always, none of this is meant to be prescriptive, rather I hope you will use my ideas as a starting point for storing your grown-up keepsakes! Please let me know if you have any questions or thoughts, I am always open!
Just over here keeping the peace,
Tara
PS. If you’d like more detailed help, with examples from my own home, my class Curating Kids’ Keepsakes is available for $29. It will help you with your stuff, too!
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