Decluttering Sentimental Items for Peace of Mind (Minimalist Living 2019)

[@beaslejh]

I have to thank you!! The other day, my wedding dress (perfectly preserved in it's box from 16 years ago) fell out of my closet and woke us up in the middle of the night. It was as if it was saying "I don't belong here anymore!!" I had been thinking of passing it along, but just never did. Needed a little extra encouragement so I watched your video this morning then posted it for free on FB Marketplace. Within 5 minutes I had a young woman who had been looking for a dress, getting married in a couple months, loved the style of my dress and was genuinely so excited for it. Her sister just picked it up and I feel SO good about gifting it to her. THANK YOU for the reassuring voice that it was okay to do this! My pictures and memories (and my marriage) is enough, don't need to keep the fabric, too!

[@paigekrome1141]

My grandmother loved blue toile. She had a blue toile China set, blue toile throw pillows, blue toile bedding and one room had blue toile wallpaper. The Christmas after she passed, my mom and I were decorating the Christmas tree. I looked in one of the boxes and there was a piece of blue toile fabric tied into a bow with an ornament hook on it. I knew instantly mom had made a Christmas ornament out of a piece of my grandmother’s sheets. It seemed like the perfect way to honor her mother without taking the burden of her entire blue toile collection.

[@kylieholman3877]

This is a beautiful idea. I have an old pair of my Nanna's pajamas. Really nice vintage ones. I might do this for us and our cousin's.

[@carolg.6838]

Sometimes people make or have made memory quilts (any size--even a small wall hanging) or teddy bears out of clothing from a person who has passed away.

[@TheMinimalMom]

Looooove this idea!!! ♥️

[@carolg.6838]

Lynda Washington Fuzzy bread wrappers!!! How funny 😁 When polar fleece first came out I read it was made from recycled plastic bottles. I remember touching some baby sleepers way back when that made me cringe...my nails would get stuck on the fabric. Maybe it was flame retardant treated polyester stuff. So as you know you could back stretchy stuff with interfacing and then quilt, but the fabric quality itself is also a losing battle. Maybe, though sentimental, we can hope for dry rot?

[@michiebutterfly7785]

Lyn Washington there are actually businesses that do that now!:)

[@lrb1651]

My Mom passed away 11 years ago, my dad 5 years ago. When Dad passed, my sister and I cleared out their house of 50 years (prepping it for selling). We each kept treasured items, took some things to second-hand stores, gave a few things to friends, and had a yard sale with the rest. BEFORE we emptied the house, I called on a friend who had a good camera and asked her to go through the house and take pictures of every room, every closet, the walls, drawers, cabinets, every nook and cranny, all the outside yard. I'm SO glad I had her take those pictures! (They're stored on a thumb-drive.) Although I DID keep numerous items, I can look at those pictures and see everything that still reminds me of them. I'm STILL, very slowly, parting with some of their items, but I'm thankful to hold on to the ones most treasured. Lesa

[@balboathedog]

Such a brilliant idea, what a treasure.

[@marijkekohler574]

What a lovely idea, thanks for sharing that with us!

[@TheMinimalMom]

Looooove this idea!!! ♥️

[@seattlegirl2077]

Can I give you some advice? Print those pictures and put them in an album. My husband who works in technology says those thumb drives will not be able to be read by soon just like no one has floppy discs any more.

[@agingintobeauty]

Brilliant idea! Going through my recently deceased parent's photos I noticed that the pics with cars, homes & interiors were the most nostalgic! Seeing how a person lived is wonderful for future generations too!

[@tracyj3969]

I love your suggestion of a scrapbook with photos of the items along with stories about them, what a fantastic idea! One thing I did was I inherited some fine jewelry pieces that had no significance to me other than who they were from. I ended up taking it all to a jeweler and traded it in on a few pieces that I knew I would wear and love. I still think of the person every time I wear it because it’s almost like they bought it for me.

[@TheMinimalMom]

Looooove this idea!!! ♥️

[@bonnie7433]

My mum also said to me that I wasn’t sentimental because I don’t have any problems getting rid of items that she considers sentimental. I think this year my family and I proved her wrong though. We are taking her and my dad on a trip to Scotland (her country of birth) so that she can show my kids and my husband and myself the significant places from her life in Scotland and share her stories. So much more meaningful to me than any item I could possible keep. I do have some sentimental items just not a whole house full. I have 5 things to be exact and they are all used or displayed and I love them all.

[@designdoctor247]

The story of ....items AND the MEANING of the items aaaaawwww that is beautiful beautiful beautiful blessings 💖

[@KatyInNH]

I think the pitcher would make a great flower vase on top of the red tablecloth

[@MrsMP100]

Totally! I’d say that’s a great piece to keep & you could pass on the remaining items

[@TheMinimalMom]

That's a great idea ♥️

[@heidinickerson]

And the platter under the vase, it gives it a greater sense of presence and creates a simple, beautiful statement.

[@janeserovy666]

The plate could be used to set out cookies.

[@michelle8143]

I recently took my great grandma's china and started using it as our every day stuff. It is very pretty, beautiful plates/bowls with flowers, but nothing exceptionally expensive or fancy (it is likely from the 19teens or 20s. I absolutely love using it! As pieces break, we just replace them with plain white Corelle. I am thinking of doing the same with my other great grandma's silver flatware. It was probably purchased in the 1910s and has been just...looked at ever since.

[@carolg.6838]

I bet it's so beautiful to see the china as well as remember your gramdmother. A note of caution that china and silverware might need to be hand washed as the heat and/or detergent as well as the clanking in a dishwasher might do damage.

[@TheMinimalMom]

Looooove this idea!!! ♥️

[@mrsducky3428]

Might want to test it for lead content just to be on the safe side.

[@nemo7782]

I definitely do this with my maternal grandparents' silver. It gets used, instead of merely stored for a faraway 'someday'.

[@nemo7782]

@@mrsducky3428 Maybe with pewter, but sterling silver IS pure silver.

[@jenniferthorne5683]

When my grandma passed away I held onto her things for about 6 months....long enough for me to process my delayed grief. I am down to just a few pieces I will always keep. Those things that make me happy!!! And I was able to bless others with those things I could not use. ❤

[@TheMinimalMom]

Love this, great job!!! ♥️👍

[@susannaharget509]

Here's what helps me decide whether to keep or let go of belongings of departed loved ones: 1. Simple math. My departed loved ones understand that I cannot keep everything that they, and their parents, and their, grandparents and THEIR grandparents left behind--no one has a house that big. They had to choose what to keep and what to let go of, so they understand that so too do I have to choose. 2. Their memory is too huge and precious to be contained in any object--that's really asking too much of a china set, isn't it? Therefore, I acknowledge that it's the MEMORIES, not the possessions that I cherish, and I focus on the memories, not the stuff. 3. They are a spirit now, and so their "stuff" means nothing to them anymore, so I'm not hurting their feelings if I get rid of it. 4. They love me, and don't want me to be burdened with something of theirs that I don't want/need/like/use. 5. If I'm keeping it "to honor them," I'm not honoring them if the object is out in the garage gathering dust. So, to honor them, I must display it in a place of honor/or put it to use in my house. If I'm not doing that, I need to let it go, and instead honor them by keeping their memory alive, teaching my children about them, planting a tree for them, donating to a charity they cared about, etc. And maybe best of all, I'm stopping the madness and breaking the cycle of guilt by not putting ANY pressure on my kids to accept any of my stuff that doesn't add value to their lives.

[@MacT4972]

Susanna Harget, this is an excellent way to look at ‘stuff’ and more importantly, memories of loved ones.

[@TheMinimalMom]

Looooove this, well said!!! ♥️

[@iamjane9628]

What an awesome philosophy! Love this.

[@christinewitherspoon3389]

Thank you for sharing that. It makes such sense and helps free us up to be able to let go of things.

[@lauriecampbell1378]

Beautifully said!

[@margaretfinney6546]

Great video.... I have a funny story of my dads items after he passed away. In my dads garage he had stacks and stacks of cigar boxes filled and labeled with so many different things. He loved to tinker all the time in his garage, fixing things and building things. He really enjoyed working in his garage. When I was packing up things in his house after he passed, I just couldn’t throw them away, they were such a part of him. So I packed my back seat of my car so high I couldn’t even see out my back window...ha and proceeded to take all of his cigar boxes to my house and stacked them on my husbands work bench, in our garage. The next morning I called my husband downstairs to the garage and walked him over to his workbench and said...say hi to Leo...ha...My husband loved my dad, so he smiled from ear to ear, and it still makes us smile when we look at them and that was thirteen years ago. So yes, we so believe in keeping things that have good memories attached to them, and we have used a lot of the little odds and ends he had stored and labeled many times and I often hear my husband say ,thanks Leo, when he finds a part he needs. Ha.. When you keep items that are attached to happy memories, it is priceless!! Thank you Dawn, for reminding me of that funny night many years ago with a car packed with cigar boxes, it still makes me smile, when I think back. Jus like your red tablecloth brings you back to a nice memory of your grandmother, priceless right? We have both used items he stored, like odd screws,, washers , fuses, you name it he labeled it.

[@karenshaffer1511]

I have a friend who has four (now grown) daughters. When they were little, her mother bought very nice, very special, dresses for each of the girls each Christmas, I believe. They were gorgeous and well loved. So my friend kept them all, not really knowing what to do with them. She does like to keep things simple in her home and finally someone suggested making a quilt out of all of them. She is not a sewer so she hired someone to do this. Now she has one beautiful quilt that she can actually display. Whether or not it gets used, I don't know, but at least she can have it out and enjoy it.

[@chandaharkins4418]

My family thinks I'm not sentimental either, which makes me a little frustrated. Hoarding stuff that takes up mental and physical real estate doesn't honor someone's memory in my opinion. I thank you for sharing your advice and journey.

[@BMad-we6qf]

And sometimes you resent the person for placing this burden/guilt on you. THAT is not honoring them.

[@TheMinimalMom]

Thank you for watching, we appreciate it!! I'd love to know your tips for dealing with sentimental items 😊 Printable with questions: drive.google.com/file/d/1aIsA31YommVCTZq-shaWsbjsJxfa9Z6V/view?usp=sharing How I get my hair this way (because it comes up every time 😉) Bed Head Waving Iron: amzn.to/2wmHTuS (Affiliate link, thank you!!!!💖)

[@sgia2154]

The Minimal Mom I have that hair waver too and I love it!!

[@timvandermey4792]

Tutorial Time!

[@TheMinimalMom]

@@sgia2154 isn't it great!?! ♥️

[@TheMinimalMom]

@@timvandermey4792 coming soon!!! ♥️👍

[@judithjohnson2111]

This is helpful. My daughter died in 2016 & we had her entire condo to clean out. As overwhelming as her illness for her 45 yrs. of her life this was so painful for me & still is. I have a somewhat large room that was my Mom's studio & its been my bedroom for decades. About half of the room is my daughters special things, still mostly packed. I've been watching your videos to try to learn how to deal with it all. I'm so emotional that I am just paralyzed at times that I want to begin but just numb out & am so stuck. I know she wouldn't want this for me. I appreciate you & I will keep watching. T.Y.❤

[@kelleyarcher3635]

I've realized recently that I value tools that I have memories of my dad and grandfather used. When I use them, I remember my dad and his dad teaching me some repair technique. I feel them with me.

[@sgia2154]

I get so excited when I get a notification that you’ve uploaded a new video!! Great content Dawn!! Thank You!

[@TheMinimalMom]

THANK YOU so much Sherry!!! ♥️

[@trinam2503]

Its a sorbet bowl :) my friend collects milk ware for her mother who adores it. Depending on the year and the markings on the bottom, it could be quite valuable. If you decide not to keep it, you might want to have it apraised. I kept my grandmothers quilt after she passed away. For 22yrs it has been packed away in a closet because it was to fragile to use. ( it had actually been thrown away because of its condition, but I retreived it from the dumpster and cleaned it). So this year, for mothers day, I used the fabric from it to create a miniture replica of it for my mom (my mom and dad actually made the quilt as a gift for my grandma). I will also make a mini replica for myself. Then if no one in the family wants whats left, it will finally be retired. I am not sure what my mom is going to do with hers. She was happy to recieve it as she is incredibly sentimental. I am making a shadow box for mine, and will display it w a few other things from my grandma. One of her porcilan elephants, a piece of her blue willow china, a pic of her as a girl, a poem that reminds me of her. All things that make me smile and remember happy times with her :) I can display and enjoy them in the shadow box but dont have to dust them or worry about them being broken.

[@carolg.6838]

A nice idea! My mother was given a quilt at age 12 that her mother had someone make for Mom. It was well used and loved and then in a cedar chest for years. After Mom passed away, my sister said she would trade me the cedar chest for the quilt. I said no because I felt the need to protect the quilt (I am sure she would have taken very good care of it.) I put it in a box. Mice invaded the closed off room and nested in and shreded portions of it. And old textiles don't handle washing machines so further worse for wear. It is somewhere; I couldn't deal with it. Possibly a similar project...pillows or something??? :)

[@TheMinimalMom]

Wow! What a cool idea to make a miniature quilt!!! ♥️👍

[@trinam2503]

@@carolg.6838 You might want to put fusible interfacing on the back of the fabric to stabalize it if you do a pillow, but that would be lovely :)

[@carolg.6838]

Thank you for the encouragement The Minimal Mom. Thank you for your advice TK.

[@chalktalkwithshari4173]

Placemats for patio or picnic table?

[@danabrown2391]

You did a really good job with this touchy subject!

[@TheMinimalMom]

Thank you Dana, I really appreciate that!!! ♥️😊

[@facedownize]

Could you do a video on how you deal with your own sentimental items? From your childhood, etc? ☺️

[@angelasnodgrass6621]

I have that problem also.

[@RitaDeeDee]

I would love that!!👏

[@patriciacassell1412]

I would love that too!

[@jeanetteposecznick2034]

Yes please!

[@mimistans7715]

@MaryWeeps PrayRosary sounds like my hubby 🤦‍♀️

[@barbaraford9486]

When I start to get bogged down and want to give up decluttering I pull up a video of yours on KZbin and you get me going again. I wander around putting things away and filling up my donate box!!

[@peggymonster2381]

Dawn I think you are a very thoughtful compassionate person. This comes through in your videos. Good job. Hope I can start using your tips.

[@cathyellis248]

I love your talks! The 'milk glass' is beautiful...use it! Platter for fruit, jug for flowers, small bowls for candy! Then when it breaks, which it will.....eventually, throw it out. Love you all. God Bless!

[@JodieC26]

I really started to pay attention to how sentimental item make me feel and if it is anything but happy I let them go. Doing this has helped me clear away so much stuff. I also had dishes from my grandmother that held no memories of her for me and I passed them on. Great video.

[@TheMinimalMom]

That's awesome! Way to go!!! ♥️👍

[@liliandaven4237]

This is so good! I would only keep 2 things from my dad...his oatmeal-spoon he has used every morning since I was a baby..and a dresser that he made. Thats it. And I would USE those things every day too! Great video! You are such an inspiration=) Love from Sweden

[@kittyoverlord9245]

I love that you have color on your home! I like that you can do minimalism your own way!

[@TheMinimalMom]

Thank you Cathleen!!! ♥️👍

[@BeccaGroves]

As always, so helpful! You know where I have a lot of "guilted gifts?" In my Christmas decorations! I never put them out because I don't like them...but I still keep these bins year over year. But now I'm inspired. I'm going to hit those bins next...

[@TheMinimalMom]

Oh that's interesting!!! Good luck!!! ♥️👍

[@saralynn353]

What a thoughtful & useful video. My brother & I closed my Mom’s house a few years ago. She has dementia & no longer seems to care about her many possessions she enjoyed accumulating. Daddy died 10 years ago. We are in the process of downsizing. I cherish my Grandma’s things I chose when she passed away 40 years ago. My Dad’s harmonica, belt & dress cowboy boots have a small corner in my closet. They make me smile. Grandma’s things are sprinkled throughout the house but repurposed. Her bread rising bowl is quite old but holds paper napkins & lives on our table. Sometimes just giving myself permission to use things differently works well. I don’t need all of their things, just a few that give me joy & remind me of wonderful times together. Great video. Subscribed, thank you!

[@gailtester8749]

I took my mother's china even though I didn't want it. When I told her I didn't want it, she cried, so I took it out of guilt. Then I bought a big china closet for it (used) and it always felt like a big burden and a dinosaur in my house. Neither of my kids wanted it. So I reached out to my niece and she wanted it! I had to box it up and ship it from Utah to Hawaii and it cost $250 to ship. I was happy to pay it and get it into a place where it was cherished. I am so glad she's got it and that I have freed up that space! I love my simple white dishes (which were also hers, come to think of it!).

[@mktay2067]

I have been learning to decide what means the most and use it or make it into something you can use. Ex. My husbands grandparents became very dear to me and I wanted to have memories of them for the kids in the house to tie them into our lives. I was given all their old clothes and I selected the items that we remembered them the most in and I made their Christmas stockings out of them. Now every Christmas when we set up they bring out the stockings and talk about grandpa and grandma and we share memories about them

[@danbobbizenner6959]

Wow! That's such a wonderful idea.

[@TheMinimalMom]

Looooove this idea!!! ♥️

[@anitah.7906]

That's so precious, what a great idea!

[@kellymary2444]

My mom saved ALL of my school work in a huge tote and gave it to me, along with tons of pictures and cards I made etc... It's sweet she saved it BUT I am not going to do this to my kids, maybe a few things but it really is a huge burden for me, and when I start going through it I feel sad because my parents were still together when I was younger (my dad left when I was 13) so there are pictures of all of us together, letters to "mom and dad" and stuff like that. I wish I could only keep the things that make me happy from that tote, but it's so darn draining even attempting going through it! I feel like there is a lot of disappointment and hurt in that tote and it sucks. I probably need to pray for healing...

[@babyroses12]

You don't need to pray because you don't want old stuff that brings bad memories. As a grandma, minimalist, senior__I don't want your stuff and you don't need mine, sell the house\ donate all items when I'm gone😂, my memory is not my clothes, a chair lol, or a hair clip I used. Stop the madness and guilt!!💆💓

[@publicserviceannouncement4777]

I suggest, if possible, (if it's still a problem) do it with someone you trust. Sometimes I just need permission to let go and I can't give myself the permission.

[@MacT4972]

Dawn, what a logical way to look at items & memories to reach the goal of minimizing! Love your messages!!!

[@TheMinimalMom]

Thank you so much Teresa!!! ♥️😘

[@donnasisk6950]

I have a lot of sentimental things from my grandmother. I use them and enjoy having them out. I have 1 child who is now married. I love to journal in photo books. So after they were married I had passed along some items that both of them loved and wanted. I realize that when I'm gone realistically they won't want or need all my "stuff" or family heirlooms. SO, for their first Christmas after they married I made a bound photo book for them where I shared family stories and made pictures of all the things I treasured that have been passed on to me. This way they have the pictures, stories of the items and the family members that they belonged to. The book was titled a Legacy of Love and Heirlooms. I also, told him that when I am no longer here, he is free to sell or donate the items. They loved the book with the stories and photos.

[@emilywhipple3816]

The process of cleaning out my grandparents' home after they moved to assisted living sparked my interest in minimalism four years ago. Decades of memories and piles of stuff had to be sorted, and there was tons of pressure to keep anything and everything. Love what you said about questioning whether or not keeping something honors the person. I need to go through the bins of things I took and make those delayed decisions. Thanks for a great video, Dawn!

[@nicolehenry6668]

Both of my parents and both sets grandparents are passed on. From my moms side I kept my grandmas cookbooks , and apron I used when I’d help bake, a milk glass vase ( I remember my grandma always cutting fresh roses and lilacs for it) the grandfather clock that was in their house ( I loved waking up to its chime when I slept over) From my dads side I have recipes and a biscuit cutter From my mom I kept a garden trellis , cookbook & cookie cutters From my dad I kept a leather belt he always wore All of these things bring me happiness and are used frequently ❤️

[@designdoctor247]

This STUFF is EMOTIONALLY heavy!!! God please help us all!!!

[@yesilugo8382]

I was talking to my husband about this very topic!!! Thank you so much for all your content ❤️❤️ You have such a gift thank you for sharing it with us.

[@TheMinimalMom]

Thank you, I greatly appreciate that!!! ♥️😊

[@Sentimentalist0923]

I LOVE the ideas of making a scrapbook and also pics of our loved one with the item and story on back. Thank you!!

[@moondancerjen]

My grandmother and I are very close. I'm so glad she is still with us. I'm dedicated to capturing her history for our family, and have been sending her writing prompts each month to capture these stories you talk about in your video. Hoping to compile all of them into a book to share with my family one day. It's the memories, the stories, and the history that matter, not necessarily the things. Love your channel, Dawn!

[@mommyofbdg]

I love the scrapbook idea! I guess the hard part comes when the person is alive now but I know they won't be forever. I want to keep EVERYTHING just in case. I have made a good start in taking pictures of some of the old cards that were just getting older and older in storage.

[@grandmaofthree897]

I have a cast iron skillet that was my Grandma's that I use quite frequently. She passed away when I was very young. When we remodeled our kitchen, I lost it. My husband had hung it in a garage closet! I do cherish this knowing it was used by her and now I am using it.

[@cjr.6908]

So many good points Dawn. 👍 "The hum of anxiety".....

[@TheMinimalMom]

Thank you, I appreciate that!! ♥️😊

[@conniesoares157]

My sister and daughter are minimalist...I have greatly reduced my stuff but watching your videos is helping me see things I have that is taking up space and making my roomy home feel cluttered in some areas. Thanks so much for your delightful way of sharing to make this task no seem so difficult to deal with.

[@michellemybelle9591]

I agree. My thought is when you have peace to release. Then I know it's ok, at least for the more difficult items.

[@TheMinimalMom]

Very well said!!! ♥️

[@bethanygunther7657]

Dawn, we need a hair tutorial!

[@racheld.2046]

Yes please!!!!

[@belindaulibarri2260]

Yes, love your waves!

[@calisongbird]

Bethany Gunther she posted a link in the description box to her hair waving tool

[@belindaulibarri2260]

And she did recently make a video.

[@lindym126]

I’m a scrapbooker for decades and love the idea of a scrapbook of the stuff memories are made of! Before my Mama passed on, we went through her closets to see what was in them, as she had no idea really, and the stuff and accumulated over 50 years!!! I found clothes I wore in high school (I’m nearly 70!!) and brides maid dresses from the 79s and 80s. And some of my dads clothes (he’s been gone 20 years). We took pictures of her with some of the stuff and me with the stuff! Wearing it holding it and laughing over it! We created a new set of memories it donated the stuff! Its a good idea to keep maybe one piece for a small flower bouquet or something. Before you turn loose of it, set it up on your table in a vignette, or display. Then take pictures. Since your grandmother is still alive, maybe a picture of her with it or find a picture of her using it on her table for a special event. My mama used to take pictures of her table settings for special occasions. Then scrapbook it. I will be doing that with other things I got from my mama that we use now, but could get broken. Preserving the memory, and not ALL the stuff. Great video!!

[@hinson_ann2474]

Great content, Dawn. I have been through this with the deaths of my parents and it is difficult. But, I agree thst it is about honoring the memory of the person rather than holding on to physical items that do not fill you with joy. Love your posts and content.

[@jacalli]

The most difficult topic to make a video on, you nailed it! The guilt is the hardest feeling to deal with when going through these items.

[@TheMinimalMom]

You are exactly right! Thank you for the kind words!!! ♥️😊

[@LetsLiveUpstream]

Super helpful! I would love to see how you handle your own sentimental items like personal yearbooks, newspaper clippings, just stuff from childhood/early adulthood? I’ve got 2 boxes just sitting in my closets that I haven’t felt brave enough to tackle yet

[@bethsmith4051]

Me too.

[@danaerakstad7924]

I think the key is to have a limit. I have 1 bin from childhood and I am almost 30. If I were to add journals I would need to make it all fot inside thr 1 bin.

[@TheMinimalMom]

Good question, coming up next week!! 👍

[@Beth1300]

@@TheMinimalMom did you make a video about dealing with your own sentimental items? I'm having trouble finding it. Thanks.

[@tanyajohnston8262]

I love milk glass :) I have started collecting a short time ago and now have many pieces. My house is not cluttered but has more "clutter" than a minimalist home. I have lots of space but decorate with milk glass, pictures and books. It looks homey but I do have to be careful not to keep too much.

[@danaerakstad7924]

I did this with a full china set passed down to me from my Mom from my grandma. I kept 1 serving bowl and it is displayed and used 😁. I want to set an example to my children that we don't keep things out of guilt if they aren't serving our family. Thank you for your videos!

[@TheMinimalMom]

Yes, well said!!! 👍♥️

[@paulinebarker6938]

This is so helpful at the moment. We are clearing my deceased parents house and my sister wants to take everything. This would have been me, but now I have only kept a couple of pieces that I can use: candlesticks, serving plate and a couple of beautiful ornaments that I will remember being in my parents house. Thank you ❤

[@seasonalliving2881]

I have received many items from my grandmothers over the years. These are women I cherish. What I have chosen to keep is my one grandmothers vintage measuring cups and the other’s rolling pin. I display them in my kitchen along with other decor and love it. It actually brings a smile to my face because the one is such a fantastic cook and the other was not so much! 😂♥️

[@paulajohnson7075]

You are very gifted at breaking down decluttering to seem very doable, Dawn. This was very helpful. I like the idea of a memory book. My sisters did not want my mama's China, so I took it. I love setting a pretty table with it and telling my grandchildren and other guests that it was my mama's. I also took some of her jewelry, which I often wear and get compliments on! I am sooo sentimental when it comes to my children's art work and poems and letters from school days. I have begun giving these thing back to them so their children can she what their parent did at their age. Then can do what they want with them! Now, I have letters and drawings in abundance from grandchildren. I plan to place them in clear sleeves, keeping only a sampling in a three ring binder, but that has not happened yet. I display the most recent "works" and the children always love to see their items on display. This video is going to be a big help to me. Thank you for the pretty printable. Off subject: I do not know how to private message on Instagram yet, so I want to ask you if you and your husband have books? I know you said you do not have book cases. I wonder where you keep books if you have any? Also, do you really not need a bedside table? I put my eyeglasses on mine, plus tissue, a book, a lamp (I know yours is mounted), a glass of water and a small decorative box of notes~and I use them all. :)

[@geektesse]

Wow, that was SO helpful! My mom suddenly past away last year, and my Dad wants to build his new life now, so we throws away all her old stuff saying to my sister and me: "Do you want it? Otherwise I'll throw it out now" which is pressuring us to take more into our houses as we would like to. As we know we'll spend more of our lifetime without her than with her we are clinging to everything we have from her. So your guide was very helpful, by far more helpful than any other advise I received. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

[@easyrightsizing9800]

Amazing tips!! You are so right about the distinction between items that have true meaning and the items that do not. Thank you for this!

[@rowboat8343]

That milk glass is beautiful. I could see the little bowls making gorgeous jewellery holders on a dresser and the larger bowls as candy or chip bowls at a party.

[@rosiehoy4736]

When my grandparents who I loved dearly died I was given all of their crockery and I love it. It feels like it was a way they showed me their love as they fed me. It took me several years of keeping it in a box before I could use it because it was too raw to start with.

[@kschur]

You mentioned making a scrapbook to keep memories. Where would you store it? Have you made any yet?

[@ashleymcginness1643]

This. Is. Gold. I never considered the cost of storing things!

[@TheMinimalMom]

Thanks Ashley!!! ♥️

[@alexamunoz7943]

True. Seriously reevaluating our possessions that we don’t really use since we are planning to move in with family as we save for a house.

[@mamabear4576]

I have found that with each subsequent child(now 4) it becomes easier to know which arts/crafts to hang onto/let go of. We have a big box that we place all of this into. When it gets full we sort through it and keep only our favorite 5 or 6. This way nobody's feelings get hurt, and we all get to enjoy viewing our creations one more time. We do have ONE sentimental tote that is stored out in our shop(designated storage area) for them to decide what to do with as adults(comes w/babybook). Works for us. -God Bless Edited for misspellings

[@adriennec9549]

Thank you for talking through the act of simplifying and sentiment. I am a newlywed wed that is desperately trying to merge our things together without creating clutter, stress, and chaos. I want a home that honors our loved ones but I don't want to keep things out of guilt. I'm so thankful I found your channel this week! You are helping me more than you know 😊 I am currently cleaning out my entire wardrobe, highly inspired by you!

[@eviewesner6231]

It is truly hard getting rid of this sort of sentimental items! Thanks again for this video!!! Re-watching.... 😀

[@TanjaHermann]

The frustrating part about sentimental items is that many people handling the estates don't understand that you actually want the pieces with the good memories, not necessarily the most valuable or the prettiest things. I was devastated when I learned that from both of my grandmas that passed, the things that I most associated with them (for one grandma a handwritten booklet with crossword-puzzle solutions that she handled daily; a gold-colored little coin purse the other grandma gave me with 5 Marks in it to go to the fairgrounds together) were thrown out because they were deemed not valuable. Why would I care about a golden, expensive porcelain coffee set which my grandma never even used? I now gave my mom the book "The art of Swedish death cleaning" so that she doesn't inadvertently throw out the things that I would like to keep to remember her by.

[@suzy1676]

Still relevant years later! 💕 Thank you 😊

[@lindamarsden8024]

Thank you for this video and printable, I'm in the process of helping my parents let go of 72 years of stuff. Scrap books is a great suggestion plus bringing joy to others will be a big motivator.

[@TheMinimalMom]

Wow, that's a big task!! All our best to you!!! ♥️😊

[@annw1395]

If your parents are still alive, consider making a video of them holding the item, talking about its history, saying what meaning it had to them, and when they got it, etc. This will be faster than making a scrapbook, PLUS you have the added benefit of their faces and voices on video. Some day you will be happy to hear them speak when they are no longer here to do that. The video could be put onto a disc, and given to other family members as well.

[@DeniseTheDreamer]

Great insight! I struggle a lot with sentimental items, especially if it's something from my parents or from a relative that passed away. I'm down to a small tote bin in our living room closet and have the most special items on display. I also have a photo album where I keep my favorite photos of family and friends.

[@TheMinimalMom]

Wow, that's awesome! Way to go!!! ♥️

[@beverlyness7954]

As soon as I saw your grandmother's milk glass collection I loved it. I thought "I'd use that for (fill in the blank)". I'm sure your grandmother knew it had value and she gave it to you thinking of that monetary value AND sentimental value. It's the most difficult part of my decluttering, knowing just how much I spent on it and that I bought it with such love, joy and the desire to have it at the time. Especially antiques. But then the monetary value translates into "I should sell it" instead of giving it to Good Will. That never happens because the safety of selling something on Craigs list or other social media is sketchy. Plus I was the person who went to thrift stores and sought out these items that I have a still love. This is my biggest challenge. They cause clutter AND I still love them. Sometimes I justify keeping 'whatever' because it is better quality, like hard wood furniture is. I live with a 1964 stove and oven that is very small and very odd, because the oven is above the stove. It's like today's microwaves can be above with the ventilation included. To replace it will require a remodel to some degree in my kitchen. The cost of that overwhelms me. I'd like to have a new one, and I'd like to have a wonderful working kitchen, and someday I hope to have that. But what's amazing is it still works. My fridge is probably 30 years old, but the guys who have come to repair it say that refrigerators nowadays are made of plastic and last an average of 7 years. That's appalling to me and I feel it's why we as a nation have so much stuff in the first place. It's cheap and meant to be thrown away because somebody want's to make money selling it to you again. What I'd like to see is a less "throw away" world. Why can't my new fridge be affordable AND last a very long time (20+ years). I'm nearly 68 and have loved all sorts of antique items. But I'm also at the season in my life where I don't want my children to have to go through my stuff when I'm gone. I don't want them to dread the whole thing. I love what you have to say. You remind me of my daughter who is an unstructured minimalist (she could use your systems). In today's world, craftsmanship and quality seem to be gone and trends that come and go are in. I think we all need to tackle that issue so we aren't over cluttering our home and lives with the junk that ends up in the landfill. It's more than being conscious of buying what we really want, not always buying cheap or what will 'work now'. I bought a bed for myself about 4 years ago. It's 100% organic (wool, cotton and latex). It has a 30 year guarantee and when it goes into a land fill, it is completely biodegradable. I purchased that bed on purpose. That is my goal for other future purchases. I feel this is the other side of minimalism, clearly thinking through what we need before we buy. What is the impact on our world? I've stopped buying any clothes or fabric items made with plastic (polyester, acetate etc..). Sadly the products for children swings wide on wastefulness. I'm watching this take place with my grandchildren. I don't like seeing it. You have it the right way, children need lots less stuff, less technology, less entertainment and more family time and outside play time.

[@madebylora]

I love it when sentimental items are also useful (like your special table cloth). After my Nan died I asked if I could have her sewing machine. A few years later, I used it to make my own wedding dress and made curtains for our first home together. My husband has since died and I am VERY SLOWLY doing the onion thing with his belongings. Each time I go through it, I can let a little bit more go if I have no specific memories attached.

[@judysbakeryandtestkitchen1654]

The biggest stress reliever seems to be getting rid of gifts from people with whom I have bad memories-a cousin, sister, and aunt that tried to cheat me over the settling of my mom’s trust. I sold the candleholder, just hoping it wouldn’t bring much. So the cousin’s gift is worth $1. Best thing is I don’t need to dust it. It’s like an open globe. Time consuming. Now, when I go in my closet or look at the dressing table, no bad memories! Thank you, Dawn.

[@findingaway5512]

Andrew Mellon talks about in one of his videos his "grandmas teacup" and how it was a cop that she used every day and that in itself makes its sentimental but if it's just something that the grandma owned that was in her house that maybe if she didn't even like then that isn't sentimental. and that objects should have a meaning between you and that person like if you have a memory of them with that object then that makes it special. Your tablecloth is a fantastic example of that. and that's so nice and use it for holidays and birthdays because it's like a little piece of your grandma is there with you!

[@findingaway5512]

But also stuff isn't those people so if we do have something that belongs to them and it breaks.... Or gets ruined. We need to know that the memory is in us. They are not our stuff.

[@MC_Hammerpants_]

I can’t get enough of your videos!!

[@TheMinimalMom]

Thank you so much, I greatly appreciate that!!! ♥️😊

[@MsWireland]

Changing my name to Binge Watcher on Minimal Mom. Lol!

[@CuneoWineTime]

Thank you so much for posting this video. I am super sentimental but my family of 4 live in a smaller home that we have outgrown only due to STUFF. Instead of a bigger mortgage and a bigger house, we are getting rid of STUFF. I just gave a bunch of my grandma's teacups back to my mom...that was tough and I was worried she'd be upset but she was great, especially because I talked to her about all the STUFF that was crushing my happy home. I've got a huge SUV full of STUFF to donate and it feels WONDERFUL. I love your videos, keep them coming!

[@agingintobeauty]

I've been moving toward a minimalist lifestyle as is my brother. Our parents died last year. I have no children but he has heirs. It's been a struggle because he wants nothing nonessential but I know his kids & future generations will want some items from their ancestors. So now, I feel like I have to hold on to items for his kids. I think getting rid of everything is a mistake. Having only one table cloth from your grandma but four heirs may lead to stress between the siblings when the time comes. We finally came to an agreement where I selected items I knew the kids had memories attached to, boxed them up and he is storing in his basement. Becoming the eldest living generation has changed my thinking about minimalism. When the old timers are around, they are the treasure keepers but when they're gone, if everyone goes minimal, there will be no more historical treasures in families. And that would be very sad. I think heirlooms are an essential category in "items to retain."

[@electricia]

I agree that heirlooms are the hardest. I don't have kids and neither did my brother. He was definitely not a minimalist and had taken a lot of the heirloom items from our mom and grandparents (and their parents, etc). Now he's gone and I have no idea what to do with most of it.

[@agingintobeauty]

@@electricia I really like the idea of photographs. Then, letting go of the item is much easier. I sought out lots of family members and gave them first shot at heirlooms. I gave a lot away. I kept almost nothing but built memories by giving things to others & sharing stories.

[@electricia]

@@agingintobeauty I am definitely doing a lot of photographs too. My mom had one sister who had four daughters who have kids, so I can definitely pass some things on. Today I am working on my mom's jewelry and they're going to take quite a few things. We just live far away so larger items are harder. I do have one hesitation with that and it's that one of my cousins is a hoarder, and I don't mean the "I'm messy and have a house full of stuff ha ha I'm a oarder" type, the "I have a house you can't walk through, 4 storage units, and two semi trailers full of stuff and most of it is trash" type. And her daughter is a minimalist. So in some ways I feel like I'm just shifting the burden. But, they do have kids to pass on heirlooms if they wish. My mom and grandma were both big on heirlooms and I think I'm letting that influence me a lot. Partly because that means there are things that go as far back as my grandfather's grandparents, and partly because I know it was important to both of them to treasure those items and pass them to the next generation. So I'm trying to honor that while balancing it with practicality, and trying not to burden my cousins with stuff. It's been 3 1/2 years since my mom passed and I'm only just now able to do these things without it being too painful to breathe. But I also have my brother's stuff to deal with, and I'm not at that point yet. It's crazy how many burdens we carry because of inanimate objects and the emotions we attach to them!

[@conniedenton826]

I really appreciate that you shared that this is a process, and that you have been working on this for 5 years. I had not realized this. Thank you.

[@marybova3307]

I love the scrapbook idea. I wish I would have done that with my grandparents and parents stuff. Nice keepsake.

[@LeahSchneider79]

I just found you yesterday and have been binge-watching your videos. They are great! I definitely keep a lot of sentimental things out of guilt. Something I need to work on. Thank you for the inspiration.

[@TheMinimalMom]

Welcome Leah!! And thank you for the kind words!! ♥️😊

[@simplesgood7694]

Great video and a very refreshing way to think about honouring the giver or the previous owner! I have no less than 8 boxes of sentimental items, cards and papers (many of the 8 are shoe boxes but still...) and they are more of a weight every time I see them. I don’t look forward to the job, but I do intend to take pictures and make scrapbooks of my favourite letters, cards and items.

[@angelacross2216]

Simple’s Good I went through all that sort of stuff of mine over a couple of days. I read every little bit, reminisced, and then dropped each in the shredder. As I was doing it I realized that if I hadn’t done so I probably would never have looked at any of it again in my lifetime. Also I was saving my kids from having to deal with it.

[@simplesgood7694]

Angela Cross Would you believe I already went through it all once and did drop a fair amount of it in the shredder? This was the ridiculous amount I kept!! 😳 You are very encouraging!! I am going to go through it all again, shredder at my side and this time keep only the amount that will fit in one scrap book!! I appreciate your input. What you say is so true!! I will likely never see these things again packed away in boxes. Thanks again!

[@oneclassybiird7100]

My husband has kept every single birthday card he’s ever received, it’s sweet but it’s overwhelming. Will show him this video in hopes it sparks a new idea within him 🌿😎 great content, love your content.

[@MsPants1632]

Monique Holdt I have a husband who’s the same. Saves every picture /card our kids make him too (we have 4 kids;) . Doesn’t really like to get rid of anything actually. I’m the opposite... lol he jokes that I have no heart. I call him a hoarder... we laugh about it but it’s a lot of stuff!! I’ve been slowly trying to convert him explaining how less is more. It’s a process;)

[@TheMinimalMom]

Wow, that is ALOT of cards!!!! ♥️

[@kathie2061]

Thanks for the video! Good reminders! When my Mom passed away it was difficult deciding what to keep & what to give away or donate. I didn’t want to keep everything and I found it helpful to remind myself that my Mom is not her things. This helped me to let things go. I only kept a few items that meant a lot to me & that helped me remember her.

[@TheMinimalMom]

Yes, that is such a great way to look at it-- well said! ♥️

[@lindenpeters2601]

I have those same bowls from my grandma! She asked if I wanted them, and I think they are beautiful, so I said yes. But she said they were not super high quality, so I don't think they are actual milk glass. Just as not all ceramic is porcelain, not all white glass is milk glass. I think those white dishes belong on those corner shelves in your kitchen, so you will be inspired to use them more. That platter would make a lovely piece of wall decor, too, maybe for the dining room. Another thing I learned, this time from my other grandma, is that whenever she had company staying with them, she'd plan to use the good china one night during their stay. That way it got used, and the guests get a little something special. ❤ I didn't register for china when I got married. I now have two sets, from a great-uncle and great-aunt. One is displayed in my mom's parents' china cabinet and I love seeing it there. ❤❤💐

[@kristensmith80]

Thank you for your great advice again! Lamps. That’s what we seem to inherit. Breakable, ugly lamps with brittle cords that we don’t trust to be safe to use or display. Lamps that came from relatives’ homes that we don’t even remember being on display. Ah! I’m much more grateful to have and use my grandmother’s china that my father gifted her from the army surplus catalog while fighting in Vietnam. That’s one thing I’m proud to display and use always on holidays. This is such a big job to whittle it down to only the special things!!

[@taymc407]

This was so helpful, thank you. I'd been wrestling with the guilt of keeping "sentimental" items when something you said really clicked. I didn't even invite this stuff into my home! A very kind, well-meaning, loved one brought it over as a "surprise". It was a gift to me, I am free to rehome it. If my loved one wanted to keep it they would have done so.

[@ericanh5711]

Excellent topic and suggestions. Your comment about how do we want our home to feel really hit home with me. I have numerous items from lots of family members on my side and husbands. He is extremely reluctant to downsize the things and I want to very badly because my home feels very off kilter lately. The space does not reflect my vision. It is a very difficult conversation with him so I have saved your video to show him. Thank you for the inspiration!!!

[@debbielicona5030]

I do really like the scrapbook of the memories. I do think in years past it was more collecting of old passed on things than in today’s time because I know my kids do not want the things I have kept for years . Times hv changed . Same for my mom she has saved things for years that I do not want .

[@myxochi]

Excellent video! This is exactly what I needed to hear at this point in our family’s minimalism journey. Thanks so much!

[@TheMinimalMom]

That's awesome, thank you so much Wendy!!! 😊♥️

[@lc400]

I am so excited to have come across this video. It is very inspiring. I inherited all my Mom's belongings which are taking up much precious space in our house and many I know would be better valued in someone else home. My challenge is my Dad lives with me and hovers over me when I begin to organize. I think he feels it is an insult when I talk about donating things that were my. moms.

[@heatherchristianson5919]

My grandma crocheted a large blanket for my wedding before she died. I crochet myself, so I personally know how much time and money it took to make that blanket. But I had no place or purpose for it. I finally donated it to a refugee project. That way all her hard work was being used by someone who really needed it and not sitting in a box wasting away. I felt like she would be happy that all her hard work went to bless someone else. And I donated it in near perfect condition. I still think about that blanket, but I feel good about my decision every time I think of her.

[@grannyprepper7788]

When you talk to your grandmother about the milk glass also ask if it's ok to split the set up in the family. Have the story behind the piece to offer the person. Also maybe your children may want a piece to keep, they know great grandmother. If all that doesn't work SEND IT TO ME.

[@TheMinimalMom]

Love this!!! You got it 😉♥️👍

[@aprilmaxwell6524]

From watching your previous videos I have begun to go through some items. I have found a few items that were hand made and given as gifts or handed down. However I did not use them because I did not want to ruin them. I realize now that was not honouring the love and work put into the items and now instead of memories of using the item to look back on, they have just been sitting in storage. So some items I have taken out to now use and some I let go of because I have no connection to them. Also I think about what would happen if my house was damaged by flood or fire and ask myself what things would I want saved and what things I could move on without if they were lost? I’ve also started to look at the big picture of life - what are we really here for? If I’m pouring all my energy into managing my inventory I’m not focused on the important things God has entrusted me with like my family nor am I focused on Him and His kingdom 😊 Once again thank you for all you share you are truly a blessing ❤️

[@TheMinimalMom]

So we'll said!!! And thank you! ♥️😊

[@badgsten]

Spot on!

[@redsmom6]

This has got to be THE most practical advice ever! Thank you so much for sharing! Looking forward to your next video on this topic.🥰

[@Nicole-yi2lo]

I keep coming back to this video for inspiration with every new category. THANK YOU!!!

[@TheDriftwoodlover]

Well said, as always Dawn. Thanks for tackling this subject.

[@TheMinimalMom]

Thank you, I greatly appreciate that!!! 😊♥️👍

[@brendadodd2908]

This makes so much sense !The hardest things to declutter are sentimental items !

[@karenharris616]

This has been so helpful. I was recently given some jewellery belonging to my grandmother who passed away in 1984. My mother had the items stored at her house. A few pieces I loved, will wear and treasure, but there were a few pieces of costume jewellery that have just sat in their boxes. I offered them to my sisters and nieces first - pretty confident they would refuse as they are quite old fashioned - and have now offered them to a friend who loves vintage clothes etc and regularly attends vintage festivals wearing vintage attire. She was thrilled with them and it is a joy to me to know that she will get pleasure from wearing them - which is what jewellery is for!! Thank you so much for clarifying how we can decide what to keep & what to release.😊 I love all your videos; you & Tom are a great couple & your sister is lovely too. I find the videos practical & inspiring. Please keep up the good work. I feel like I am catching up with a friend every time you post 😊

[@homethatilove4595]

I am right there with you, Sister, when it comes to preserving the photos and the Stories they contain! SCRAPBOOKING is not only therapy, it saves me from keeping material things... Snap a 📸 of items before you give away if they're sentimental.

[@patriotgirl6843]

I love the scripture in Galatians 5:22-23 about the fruit of the spirit. I would totally use those. Sentimental things are the hardest for me!

[@mariad.6373]

Thank you. Lost both of them recently and have a house full of mostly my stuff and three more generations of clutter

[@LS-yk5zd]

Thank you for this video, good timing. I don't usually have issues with decluttering except for a few pieces I'm dealing with right now, this video has clarified a way to decide if I'm going to keep them or not. Great video!

[@TheMinimalMom]

That's awesome to hear, thank you so much!!! ♥️😊

[@marieavila7100]

I use the China that is from my great aunt for special occasions like birthdays anniversaries and special dinners. I like to remember her by using it.

[@cindygillespie206]

That milk glass platter is the perfect size for serving pizza! I make homemade pizza, cut it and serve it on that. Makes me feel fancy!