heh. Yeah. I'm a packrat. I keep things almost purely for sentimental value, although "but I might NEED it someday" also factors in pretty heavily.
I recently cleaned out my closets, and the storage room in my house, where I've had boxes since I moved out the first time. Wow. I somehow managed to get rid of about 11 industrial garbage bags full of stuff (half of those bags were clothes I donated), but I STILL have too much stuff. With the clothes, I used the rule of "if you can't remember the last time you wore it, get rid of it." Worked fairly well.
I have a box of stuff from high school. Signed play posters, a couple scrapbooks, pictures, plaques, awards...I don't have any need for these things, but I can't bring myself to throw them out.
I also used to keep notes and letters, but I MADE myself throw them away in the last cleaning purge. I had shoeboxes of notes from high school, letters from boyfriends, postcards from vacations. I read a few of them, but then chucked the rest without opening.
Hmmm. What else? I can't throw away keys, or jewelry, or interesting coins. I have a small box with these things, plus discarded guitar picks I've picked up at shows or open mic nights.
Which reminds me...I need to start cleaning again. It's time to get hardcore about some of this stuff-- I'm leaving in a month or so, and I really don't need some of this stuff still following me around. (yeah...I'm definitely keeping the scrapbooks, though.)
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"...for though she was ordinary, she possessed health, wit, courage, charm, and cheerfulness. But because she was not beautiful, no one ever seemed to notice these other qualities, which is so often the way of the world."
"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"
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