Are you being held hostage by relics of the past?
OK so here is the deal. You don’t have to keep anything that you don’t need, like, or want.
Just because your grandmother’s sister made it you don’t have to keep it. If it is not your style you don’t have to keep it. (Unless your employer requires you to)
If your long gone in-law was a hobby carver or a paint by number artist and not very good you don’t have to keep their works of art.
It is not disrespectful or disgracing their memory. Keep the memory and let go of the object.
I can’t tell you how many times I hear clients say but my father-in-law made this and my husband kept it so now that he has passed I have to keep it.
No, you don’t.
You are not required to keep relics of someone else’s’ past. You never met this person; you don’t have to have their really bad paint by number painting of Elvis. Nor do you have to keep pictures of your prior spouse’s friends that you never met and have no idea who is in those pictures.
No one expects you to keep a museum of your husband’s past. It’s OK to let go of your mother-in-law’s collection of dolls that your husband hated and thought was creepy. You can get rid of them. Really it’s OK.
Zig Ziglar says, “no stinking thinking.”
I say, “Keep what you like and let go of the rest.”
Take what you want and leave the rest. This applies to your stuff. You can do it and you will feel better when you are done.
Tell me what relic of the past you let go of.
Have a great day. Thanks Pamela
Hang on.
If we threw them all out, would there be any relics like we now treasure from the way past? If the folks of the art deco had thrashed them all, would the art world have lost something? Hmmm…. its true we are swimming in stuff, but what to keep?
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Keep what you like. If you don’t like them doesn’t mean that someone else doesn’t. I never advocate trashing relics. Sell or give them away.
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I let go of some clothes that mum made me but that I hadn’t worn in years. And I’ve culled cards of the past. The memories are nice but that’s it. Great reminders to live in the now and move on. Though I also agree with Mel above, we can’t get rid of everything or there’d be no records.
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Always keep what you like and photograph, repurpose, reuse or share with others the rest.
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Absolutely true, thanks Pamela.
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I love this post! Wish I could convince my partner to let go of some “relics”…he has shirts that are older than our son – and he’s 17!!
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My husband passed on a shirt to our son that he had when he was 18, that he wore when we started going out, then wore to his birth, our son wore it to his son’s birth and then passed it on to him when he was 18! We call it the Beach Boys shirt, it is a pink and blue Ben Sherman short-sleeved short. I doubt it will be worn again, for one thing our grandson is more muscly but the shirt is threadbare, no-one can bring themselves to throw it out.
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That’s such a great story! Just goes to show that Ben Sherman is a good label. I think you should write to them and tell them – it has a lovely human interest element and is good advertising for them!
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😄
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You know I have seen parts of men’s shirts (special shirts) being added to a wedding dress. Borrowed, old or blue. Possible make something that could be carried at wedding pocket square or hankie??
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They’d never allow it to be cut up! Someone may yet wear it, there are another three (much younger) grandsons lining up 😄
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Well there you go.
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Agreed. That is a great story.
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Frame it or make a pillow out of it. That is a wonderful story.
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Thanks. Maybe this will be the start he needs to get started.
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🙂 So true!
I’d better get started 😉
Have a very HAPPY Sunday 🙂
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Thanks and you too.
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Oh my gosh Pamela – I need you to come and take charge of my sister. I’m going to do a blog post soon with some pictures – she’s becoming a hoarder.. she can’t stand to let go of the ‘relics’ of the past. I find it quite hard but seriously – she has a problem letting it go and now her garage is literally full to brimming over! I’m definitely showing her this!!! xx
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I hope it works. Thanks so much.
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Me too! xx
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