Issue #22 - Memories really are made of these
The power of 15 minutes and why I'm saving the 'rubbish' ones. ♡
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Hello lovely people,
What’s new with you?
I’m a big fan of being organised, mostly because I like to be able to find things when I need them, but also because I find it easier to feel calm and balanced when I know where I’m at in the world. I’m largely someone who stays on top of the ‘stuff’ that life produces but every now and then, I adore a good, old declutter and clear out.
When I was in the throws of trying to navigate the end of my marriage, decluttering and organising felt as though it was part of my therapy - there was so much of my life that felt out of control but at least I could make sense of our family possessions. And recently, having walked a few removals people around the house in preparation for our big move back to the UK, I’ve really focused my mind on the parts of the house that needed a touch of rationalising - not least because shipping is expensive and it would be criminal to send things on a voyage across the sea and then throw them out once they’d arrived.
One of the removals people told me that we’d be classed as ‘content light’ which basically means that when you open a cupboard door, the contents don’t fall out on top of you (images of that wardrobe scene in 27 Dresses spring to mind!) but maybe I’m a touch ‘clutter competitive’ because I still felt there was scope for improvement.
For the purpose of us knowing each other better, let me explain that I am not a minimalist but disorganised clutter does play havoc with my brain and for everything to have its place in your home, there has to be a limit to how much stuff you have. Can you handle clutter? No judgement, just curious.
It’s early days in terms of our actual move, but I’ve made a plan to dedicate 15 minutes of each day to Operation 'Do We Really Need All This Stuff?’ and I have to say, even for the most apprehensive declutterer, this is a solid strategy - enough time to make a dent in any cupboard or drawer, but not sufficient to create overwhelm.
Even for the most apprehensive declutterer, dedicating 15 minutes each day to the cause is a solid strategy.
Obviously, there were some exceptions to my 15-minute approach; the box of school reports - now there’s a half day gone - and then there were those tuggers of every inch of my heartstrings, our memory boxes… ♡
In the early days of family life, we had started with one box each, but as I began to empty the garden shed of these treasure chests, I could see that they’d somewhat multiplied over time - this was going to be a hardcore decluttering job!
It’s interesting what we treasure, isn’t it? There was artwork, SO MUCH artwork; class photos from over the decades (with only one where I’d been wise enough to write everyone’s name on the back); special birthday cards with handwriting (and wit) which develops as the years progress; every orthodontic contraption (+ extracted teeth - ugh) for a host of dental issues (what was I thinking?); an enormous collection of Rubik’s cubes in every configuration; apology letters on the cutest writing paper (Dear Mummy, I’m sorry I was so mean. I hope you will forgive me x); the first baby grows (how were my children ever that tiny?) and so many mementos of tiny, treasured moments. It was honestly, the most beautiful way to spend a day. ♡
The artwork took up most of the space, so I sorted them and quickly photographed the pieces to create a photo book for each child artist. Choosing which ones to include was a challenge - many of them were definitely not ‘works of art’ but it felt important to include some of those that perhaps didn’t even get stuck on the fridge in their heyday. This one made me laugh! ♡
I used the Once Upon photobook service to create and print the books (the interface is simple and the finished product is stylish - it’s a Swedish brand) and I’d recommend them. They are fairly pricey (about £30 per book, in my case) but they take up so much less space than the original masterpieces and we are much more likely to look at them in book format. Keep an eye out for discount codes - they come up often.
I’ve written previously about how I now struggle to recall memories of my married life (perhaps as a form of self-preservation) but I’m starting to recognise that in reality all of us remember so very little of the detail of our past. Yes, we have a sense of the themes of the ebb and flow of our lives, but having a clear and vivid memory of all of the detail feels unlikely. These memory boxes have been really helpful in bringing moments back to life. A therapist would call them ‘cues and context’ but in my words, they are the mementos of family life that can, in a heartbeat, conjure some of the feelings of those fabulous years. Memories really are made of these. ♡
I will always be a declutterer but some treasures are with me for the long haul - orthodontic contraptions, not included!
Please, please share this email with anyone who might be even a tiny bit interested. ♡
I hope that there has been something useful here for you today. As always, take what you like, share what you love and leave behind the rest. ♡
Sending you all the hugs,
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