nostalgia and seeking clarity

BRRR! It has been a cold weekend here in the Ozarks. We stubbornly held a garage-barn sale Saturday and it was cloudy and in the 40's all day. The sale was a bust but it felt good to clean out the extra STUFF that was just sitting in boxes or rotting in damp corners of the barn. Once the rest of it goes to donations it will be an even better feeling of clearing out the clutter.

I've been thinking about what makes us hold on to stuff-especially memory heavy items that hold no better purpose in our lives.

We watch the show Hoarders sometimes and realize some people feel keeping/collecting is protecting them or filling an emptiness inside. For the most part I think we keep things for the nostalgia and seek to keep the past alive. I guess that is why I have been clearing stuff out so easily, for me the past is past and I am enjoying the present so much that I don't need the things of the past cluttering up my future.

I do like nostalgia though and I want to preserve some memory joggers like photos or very small keepsakes. I found my old treasure box, that was pretty cool. I think I will try to limit my collecting of keepsakes, mementos and such to things that will fit in that box and on the wall or in the computer or in my jewelry case....okay actually I am still attached to a lot of things. What things do you keep that you can't part with?

One photo this week. My favorite cold weather companion, a hot cup of coffee-slightly strong with half&half creamer. I also just found this coffee cup in storage, and I get to keep it because it is useful and reminds me of a fun time!
Have a great week.