Every once in a while I go on a decluttering spree.
The standard procedure is: open all drawers, cupboards and boxes in a room, dump contents on floor or bed, start shifting into piles, throw away and return what must be kept. Usually the stuff we keep is thrown back where it came from. But some things are removed from the general junk pile and kept separately in a special box.
The box is not fancy. Far from it! It’s a plain, stupid, light blue Ikea box. It is the content which is important, not the packaging. The things inside that box are the things that matter. It is a collection of random objects without any real value so to speak of. But each item represents a significant event or a milestone.
Such as our wedding invitations, the box that held our rings, an old locket with pictures of me and my husband dating from when we just met. Here are the hospital bracelets both daughters wore when they were born, their birth announcements, a pair of the tiniest socks knitted by my mother-in-law, my first Mother’s Day gift, my late godfather’s obituary.
I’ve only started the box recently. December 2014 to be exact. It was a difficult time for me, right after death of my godfather. I was sad and depressed, with a giant hole in my heart. I constantly wanted to return to the past but couldn’t because the present laid its claim on me and there was little time to reminiscence, let alone grieve. I had so many feelings, yet couldn’t channel them.
And then, during my last clean-up round, I started putting these thing into a box rather than tossing them back into the drawer where they had come from.
It felt cleansing.
There was no master plan involved. It was just stuff I wanted to keep with me, but not within arm’s reach. It stored my memories and the accompanying feelings of hope, joy, grief and despair.
Every once in a while I look through the box or add something. The content makes me smile and cry at the same time.
Just like life.
Do you keep a Memory Box? What does it contain?
This is an original post to World Moms Blog by Tinne @ Tantrums & Tomatoes from Belgium. Photo credit: Antara. This picture has a creative commons attribution license.
This is such a beautiful idea! You just inspired me!
Thank you Ewa!
Thank you for sharing this part of your grieving and healing process!
Gosh, I wish I could minimize mine into one IKEA box. Lol! I have a problem gathering just a few clothing items, shoes, the babies’ necessities & get going when we move, because every time I go through the cleaning process [which is very much like yours (and I am so glad to hear I am not alone)] I come across items from my 13 year old’s kindergarten school work. I find a trinket from my mom’s and my trip to Greece, or something a good friend gave me 20 years ago, or photos that I do not have a backup for. 🙂
You are most definitely not alone in your decluttering ways!
And I must admit the Ikea box is a wee bit on the small side…
I have a “Box of Jen”! And, we all have a box. I have not been in it lately, but I remember that it includes my sorority paddle and my old scrap books from when I was a kid!
I completely agree with you — when you’re cleaning out stuff, there are always those little sentimental things. Everyone needs a box!
Mine came about from moving from place to place. I love the story of how yours came about after the passing of your godfather. Hugs. xxx Jen 🙂
Actually I think I’m going to make a box for each family member. Thank you for the idea Jen!
I have several memory boxes. I keep one in each of my son’s bedrooms and in my room. Like you, I toss tokens of memories in there….ticket stubs, play programs, cards from grandparents, special drawings…..anything that seemed to capture a special moment. You’ve inspired me to go take a look in them!
I have many memory boxes. I have a box with my childhood memories, a box for each child with memories when they were babies, a box of photo’s.. I tend to hang on the things a little too much.
Big squishy hug for missing your godfather. xo