We’ve done the alphabet, now it’s time for organising by numbers. And where else could we start than with the number one?
There is one thing I recommend for each and every one of my clients. The size, look and shape may vary, but I think everyone should have one memorabilia box. Yes, that’s right, just one.
Here’s what I usually see when helping someone to get their memorabilia organised. I see many random containers and bags with random bits and pieces, including:
- every piece of art a child made during a year at kindergarten,
- travel brochures from a recent trip alongside the menu from the plane, postcards and train timetables,
- napkins, swizzle sticks and deflated balloons from a cruise holiday,
- every wedding, birthday, and Christmas card they’ve ever received.
So what’s wrong with that? Everyone, of course, gets to make their own personal choices about what is memorable and worth keeping. The trouble with keeping everything from the past is that it crowds out “the here and now” and takes over space and energy. Some Christmas cards are worth keeping and some come from the real estate agent you met at a networking function 15 years ago. That example is from personal experience.
When you set aside one designated container to hold treasured memorabilia, a few things happen.
- Memorabilia is well looked after and more easily preserved.
- You know where to find those precious memories to reminisce or share with others quickly and easily.
- You make better choices about what to keep and what not to keep.
- You have a curated, manageable amount of memorabilia that leaves plenty of space and energy for “the here and now”.
Look out for more articles about organising by numbers in the future. And if you have a suggestion, I’d love to hear it.
