Comments on: Assigning sentimental value to material things http://www.marriedwithluggage.com/2009/03/10/assigning-sentimental-value-to-material-things/ Life is too short to stay in one place! Sun, 12 Feb 2012 05:29:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Married with Luggage » How to Host a Reverse Birthday Party http://www.marriedwithluggage.com/2009/03/10/assigning-sentimental-value-to-material-things/#comment-1580 Married with Luggage » How to Host a Reverse Birthday Party Wed, 30 Dec 2009 14:01:55 +0000 http://warrentalbot.com/wordpress/?p=127#comment-1580 [...] [...] [...] [...]

]]> By: Married with Luggage » Sentimental value is assigned by you http://www.marriedwithluggage.com/2009/03/10/assigning-sentimental-value-to-material-things/#comment-694 Married with Luggage » Sentimental value is assigned by you Sun, 09 Aug 2009 22:33:47 +0000 http://warrentalbot.com/wordpress/?p=127#comment-694 [...] Sentimental value is assigned by you, and when something is no longer sentimental it may just mean you’ve already processed those feelings and carry them with you (I recently had this experience with a special ring that was lost.) [...] [...] Sentimental value is assigned by you, and when something is no longer sentimental it may just mean you’ve already processed those feelings and carry them with you (I recently had this experience with a special ring that was lost.) [...]

]]> By: Wife http://www.marriedwithluggage.com/2009/03/10/assigning-sentimental-value-to-material-things/#comment-361 Wife Fri, 13 Mar 2009 22:39:03 +0000 http://warrentalbot.com/wordpress/?p=127#comment-361 <p>Margit, you really have a way with words. (of course you do - you talk to teenagers for a living!) Thank you for sharing your experience. :)</p> Margit, you really have a way with words. (of course you do – you talk to teenagers for a living!) Thank you for sharing your experience. :)

]]> By: Margit Crane http://www.marriedwithluggage.com/2009/03/10/assigning-sentimental-value-to-material-things/#comment-360 Margit Crane Fri, 13 Mar 2009 12:00:27 +0000 http://warrentalbot.com/wordpress/?p=127#comment-360 <p>To answer your question: I wasn't going to let go of the stuff. I felt like that would be some form of disloyalty to my family. But I was at a coaching event and I volunteered for a one-on-one in front of everyone and the coach asked what is something that I'm not letting go of and the memorabilia was the first thing that popped into my head. So guess what got dealt with?!</p><p>I think getting rid of stuff is so freeing. My parents were pack rats and I saw how their "stuff" just took over everything. It was like all the stuff just served to bury the real treasure, which was THEM!</p> To answer your question: I wasn’t going to let go of the stuff. I felt like that would be some form of disloyalty to my family. But I was at a coaching event and I volunteered for a one-on-one in front of everyone and the coach asked what is something that I’m not letting go of and the memorabilia was the first thing that popped into my head. So guess what got dealt with?!

I think getting rid of stuff is so freeing. My parents were pack rats and I saw how their "stuff" just took over everything. It was like all the stuff just served to bury the real treasure, which was THEM!

]]> By: Wife http://www.marriedwithluggage.com/2009/03/10/assigning-sentimental-value-to-material-things/#comment-359 Wife Wed, 11 Mar 2009 23:23:01 +0000 http://warrentalbot.com/wordpress/?p=127#comment-359 <p>Judy, I don't think memorabilia is a bad thing at all. It only struck me as a problem when I became so upset at losing a "thing" that represented something much bigger. Losing the "thing" does not mean losing the memory or emotion it represented. I like the way Margit says that we eventually possess what the item symbolizes.</p><p>I love my pictures, too. They are all going digital before our trip so I can "see" my family and friends no matter where we may be. </p><p>I'm looking forward to reading more about your writing process (and eventually reading the book!).</p> Judy, I don’t think memorabilia is a bad thing at all. It only struck me as a problem when I became so upset at losing a "thing" that represented something much bigger. Losing the "thing" does not mean losing the memory or emotion it represented. I like the way Margit says that we eventually possess what the item symbolizes.

I love my pictures, too. They are all going digital before our trip so I can "see" my family and friends no matter where we may be.

I’m looking forward to reading more about your writing process (and eventually reading the book!).

]]> By: Judy http://www.marriedwithluggage.com/2009/03/10/assigning-sentimental-value-to-material-things/#comment-358 Judy Wed, 11 Mar 2009 08:54:46 +0000 http://warrentalbot.com/wordpress/?p=127#comment-358 <p>Fascinating topic here, this whole business of things becoming gargantuan symbols of big ideas, of experiences, of lives. Being very tactile (and visual), I always felt they helped me relive experiences. I see and touch the thing and it moves me right into reminiscing. But you are right. We don't need the things to remember. </p><p>My problem right now with memorabilia (family photos, home movies, etc.) is that I am writing a memoir and they help me with plot, dialogue, character descriptions. I see myself running around as a little kid and it brings back the thoughts, ideas, feeling this quirky little girl had growing up. </p><p>I like the way you made me think about this topic.</p> Fascinating topic here, this whole business of things becoming gargantuan symbols of big ideas, of experiences, of lives. Being very tactile (and visual), I always felt they helped me relive experiences. I see and touch the thing and it moves me right into reminiscing. But you are right. We don’t need the things to remember.

My problem right now with memorabilia (family photos, home movies, etc.) is that I am writing a memoir and they help me with plot, dialogue, character descriptions. I see myself running around as a little kid and it brings back the thoughts, ideas, feeling this quirky little girl had growing up.

I like the way you made me think about this topic.

]]> By: Wife http://www.marriedwithluggage.com/2009/03/10/assigning-sentimental-value-to-material-things/#comment-357 Wife Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:12:29 +0000 http://warrentalbot.com/wordpress/?p=127#comment-357 <p>Margit, I like the way you think. Thank you for sharing your experience. Can I ask whether you finally just had enough of the stuff or if there was an incident that sparked getting rid of it all (a move, maybe)? </p><p>I ask because I know without this downsizing for our big trip I would probably not be thinking about this topic at all. And the loss of the ring is making me question many other things - would that have happened anyway, or would I be kicking and screaming about downsizing my "good stuff" as we get closer to departure? Just curious about your take on it.</p> Margit, I like the way you think. Thank you for sharing your experience. Can I ask whether you finally just had enough of the stuff or if there was an incident that sparked getting rid of it all (a move, maybe)?

I ask because I know without this downsizing for our big trip I would probably not be thinking about this topic at all. And the loss of the ring is making me question many other things – would that have happened anyway, or would I be kicking and screaming about downsizing my "good stuff" as we get closer to departure? Just curious about your take on it.

]]> By: Margit Crane http://www.marriedwithluggage.com/2009/03/10/assigning-sentimental-value-to-material-things/#comment-356 Margit Crane Tue, 10 Mar 2009 23:54:07 +0000 http://warrentalbot.com/wordpress/?p=127#comment-356 <p>The way I look at it: you now possess the courage that the ring was bought to inspire in you. So you didn't need it anymore.</p><p>I had a closet full of memorabilia from my parents. It took up a lot of space but I didn't want to let it go. I finally realized that it was my way of staying linked to my parents, which is FALSE. We went through all the photos, took the best and found someone to create a video-audio montage. We made copies for other relatives too.</p><p>Stuff = stuck energy. Releasing stuff = welcoming lightness and freedom</p><p>I support you "unsticking," Betsy!</p> The way I look at it: you now possess the courage that the ring was bought to inspire in you. So you didn’t need it anymore.

I had a closet full of memorabilia from my parents. It took up a lot of space but I didn’t want to let it go. I finally realized that it was my way of staying linked to my parents, which is FALSE. We went through all the photos, took the best and found someone to create a video-audio montage. We made copies for other relatives too.

Stuff = stuck energy. Releasing stuff = welcoming lightness and freedom

I support you "unsticking," Betsy!

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