Hi, Christel here from Space to Love! I was organizing recently and found myself in a bit of a dilemma—one that so many of my clients can relate to. It all started when I came across a piece of my past that I’d completely forgotten about: my prom dress.
Now, I’m a little older, and let’s just say the dress doesn’t fit anymore. It’s a lovely reminder of a special time, though. My mother made it for me, which gives it a lot of sentimental value. But what’s funny is that, as an organizer, I’ve learned how sentimental attachments can lead us to hold onto things we might not actually need or use.
When I first decided I didn't want to keep the dress, I passed it on to my best friend. I didn’t want to donate it because of the sentimental attachment, but I also wasn’t sure what to do with it. So, I thought, Hey, why not let her daughter use it for dress-up? That way, the dress could have another life. Little did I know, my friend was thinking, “It’s too nice for that; I’ll just hold onto it for her.”
Fast forward a few decades, and when I visited New York to pick up some winter clothes, my friend handed me a surprise—my prom dress! She never got rid of it after all. Suddenly, I was faced with the very dilemma that many of my clients face: the attachment is now stronger than before, and I still don’t know what to do with it!
So, here I am, a professional organizer who coaches people through letting go, but now holding onto my prom dress because it feels even more special. My friend cared for it for all these years, and it’s now a little piece of our shared history. But realistically, I know I’ll never wear it again, and it's taking up space that I could use for something more practical.
This experience made me realize that even as organizers, we’re not immune to the emotional pull of items with personal history. So now, I’d love to hear your thoughts! Should I donate it and let it start a new chapter in someone else’s life, or should I keep it as a memento of my youth and friendship?
Let me know in the comments below. And remember, whether you’re holding onto an item or letting it go, what matters is that it reflects the life you want now, not the memories of the past.