I used to be some kind of a pack rat growing up, always insisting to keep things that have “sentimental value” even though I know I won’t find them necessary in the future. I would always think, “If I keep this item now, someday I’m gonna want to recall memories I’ve forgotten that are associated with it.” By the age of 21, I have collected lots of shoe boxes housing memorabilia and other miscellaneous stuff. You want thingamabobs? I’ve got twenty!
But when your life suddenly takes a turn (one that may involve leaving the house you grew up in and moving to a whole other island) you find yourself in a situation wherein you have to choose to either let go of the useless junk or take them with you. In my case, I let it all go. Because even in letting go of the useless junk, it somehow teaches you how to move on.
When I moved permanently to Manila, I’ve managed to hoard a whole new set of worthless crap. Because, really, old habits die hard. After a certain period of time, I again found myself stuck with too many unnecessary things (boxes, papers, clothes with stains or rips, worn-out shoes and slippers, old bags, hair clips, ribbons, paper bags, bottles of old lotion and cologne, receipts, containers of different sizes, key chains, jewelry boxes, scrunchies that have lost their elasticity, USB cables, incomplete set of crayons, pens with no ink, etc.) that I can’t seem to let go and are only causing clutter in my little world. I’ve moved apartments six times in the last four years, and every time I move, I always accumulate junk in boxes that I need to throw or give away. Disposing of these objects is kind of symbolic, you see. Saying goodbye to the old ways, and welcoming the new. I figured that if I don’t do it, I’m never gonna be able to declutter my life. Yes, my life. Because having a messy bedroom says a lot about a person! Lol.
Not that I’m not messy now. I still am. My apartment is a haven of disorderliness but I think I’m doing a whole lot better than before. And I have an easier time disposing of things now.
In fact, I sold two mobile phones this week that I no longer use. Before, this would be something that will stress me out because I hate letting go of personal things. But today it’s easier for me to do so. I don’t even have problems with the idea of selling my iPod Touch that’s only 7 months old.
I know that I’m just putting too much drama in this (haha), but I guess my point is, sometimes we reach a point wherein we feel that we’re actually stepping up one level in the maturity ladder while minimizing sentimentality a bit. More importantly, we are able to decide that we no longer want to be held back by our fear of losing personal possessions. If we can move on from little things, it won’t be long until we can move on from bigger things, in some cases, from people who were previously part of our lives.
Don’t let go of me jownee :( :P *hug*
I’m a pack rat, too, blame my mother, the biggest pack rat of all. Pati box ng mga binigay sa kanya and monitors na di na gumagana tinatabi pa :(
@Mae: haha. I won’t let you go, maemae! I can easily let go of things but I keep the ones that truly matter. *hug*
My mama is also a big pack rat! that’s one thing i don’t wanna take after her. haha. nakwento ko yata sa inyo diba? when they moved back here in manila, isang truck ang mga gamit lng ni mama!! kasama pa ang old PC set namin na di na gumagana for years! kaloka.
We’d often tell her off about her attitude but she would always say that she can’t let it all go because it’s her “whole life” and that’s something we will never understand. I think she’s right. haha. :)
OMG YOU AND MAE. You both blogged about maturity almost the same time!!! Maybe I should blog about it too, except that I dont have anything to say about maturity based from experience hahaha :)
And yes. Decluttering. My problem, too. Teach me how to let go Joni please? :D
@Riz: Haha! it’s not really about being mature. just being less sentimental. ;))
Simple lang, Riz, just get a box, put all the stuff that you don’t need in it, forget that those items mean a lot to you, close the box, then throw or give it away. Or in your case, sell it! hehe :)
ay naku.. moving every six months and living in a dorm for decade taught me that i can live out of a backpack. but, my pad right now is overflowing with papers. i have more books than clothes, nyah.
despite all evidence to the contrary… i have a hard time letting people go. sometimes though, clinging just makes the separation even more painful. hay.
i guess a part of maturity is also knowing where you are not needed or wanted… and not forcing yourself into those situations or onto those people.
@tarits: parang may laman yang comment mo.. hehe! iblog mo kasi ung experience mo.. ano na ba update dun sa could-have-been lovelife? :)
aha! why do girls have similar stories? i had to throw away more 1000 Quantum tickets because I think that’s moving on (for a starter). haha
i haven’t thrown the doodle pads i owned in second grade (alongwith tenthousand other stuff) though
im not really good at the “letting go” part haha
Congrats you managed it well! =D
@cai – lol @ Quantum tickets. That’s a good place to start.
Doodle pads? Nooo, don’t throw those away. (But to be honest, I threw mine away).
I don’t know if I’m good at the letting go part yet. I’m trying. :)
the quantum tickets,tsk tsk, has a painful story ..
nagipon ako 1000+ tix in exchange of abig Mashimaro stuffed toy , tapos when i finally accumulated the tix i needed, wala na si mashimaro, nakuha na ng iba T___T
so i kept the tix instead. hahaha
and, shhh, i kept a couple of pads, im hiding them haha im such a cheater =b
Amen. I completely agree with everything you said in the last paragraph. I can totally relate. =) There are times when I look back and remember how I used to feel about certain things, and see the disparity of how I feel about them now. I can’t help but laugh inside realizing how immature my feelings were toward certain things.
Losing that iPod Touch of mine really hit me, but I know someday soon I won’t even remember the anguish I felt in losing that material possession. It may seem impossible when the “wound” is still fresh, but it does happen with time. Life does give us different opportunities to be able to learn how to let go, be it material possessions or people. Sometimes we really just don’t have a choice but to let go and learn why we had to.
hey love! sorry this is off topic but i just wanted to drop by really quick… Here’s a little present from me: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v335/so-lushious/hh09-xoxochar.gif Happy Halloween!!!
and im the ever grateful recipient of your gadgets. i tenk u. *bow* haha! ^_^
@Michelle: That’s a different story with your iTouch. Your parents gave it to you and it has a special engraving. You’re entitled to feel sad. :( but you’re right, you’ll get over it soon. :)
@Jenmai – your next scheduled payment is this Friday. correct? hahahaha! :p
Someone said you have to empty your space to give room for better things. Ako din too sentimental ayaw ko palitan ang 3-year old laptop buti na lang you gave me your influence hehe!
Masarap din ang feeling when you let go of some things. Parang you have suddenly grown up :)
I used to be a pack rat… But due to the 100 lb. baggage weight limit for international flights, I had to leave most of my belongings back in the Philippines when I got married and moved to the U.S. Now I’m going to do my best to limit the stuff I keep.
@Fatima Yup, that’s what I’m doing too, limit the stuff I keep. Especially because I don’t have a permanent address. hehe.