PRESERVING THE PAST
Keeping a few treasures to pass down helps to create special bonds between generations
Clients will often seek my approval before making a final decision to throw something away, donate it or sell it. And if they definitely no longer want or need the item, I usually reassure them they are making the right decision, especially if someone else could use it.
But — and this may come as a surprise — I also find myself regularly trying to convince people that something they consider disposable may be worth keeping. Not because it’s valuable in a monetary sense, but because it is, or may be, priceless to someone in the future.
Yes, I’ve read Marie Kondo’s popular book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing (Ten Speed Press, 2014), and yes, a large part of my job involves helping people declutter their homes. But I’m not totally on board with the notion we shouldn’t keep something unless it sparks immediate joy and is useful.
It’s true that some objects are just objects and that many household items can easily be replaced, but there are some things that can’t, and shouldn’t, be replaced. Let me explain.
Technology and other innovations are changing the way we value important pieces of our lives. Handwritten letters are becoming a relic. Instead, we have thousands of emails and texts. Our smartphones allow us to take more photos than ever, but we’re printing far fewer. Because of those changes and the speed with which we can do things now, things like letters and printed photos from our past can feel irrelevant and extraneous.
But I would argue those tangible memories are invaluable, and that passing down at least some of those possessions creates an important connection between generations and has a vital part in a family’s history.
I understand millennials aren’t interested in furnishing their homes with their parents’ heavy wooden furniture. I also realize that setting the table for a formal meal has become a rare occurrence. I’m not advocating that people keep every antique table or all three sets of china because they hope to pass them down to the next generation. But I do recommend people take time to think about and set aside a couple of special things that younger members of their family may like to have and that will provide a bridge between old and new.
I advise clients to think small when considering what they would like to pass on to their children or grandchildren. Ideally, the items should be portable, and it’s not necessary to give things away as a whole collection. For instance, if you collected silk scarves, there is no need to keep all of them because you think your daughter may eventually want them. Choose one or two and either give them to her now or set them aside to give to her later. Or if you’ve collected mugs from all over the world and no longer have room to keep them, choose a few from special locations to pass along to your children and donate the rest.
I wholeheartedly endorse going through your belongings periodically and reassessing what to keep and what to give away. It’s my job, after all! But don’t make rash decisions or feel pressured to get rid of treasures just for the sake of expediency. If you plan to move or are considering downsizing in the next couple of years, begin to think about what relatives might want, but be realistic. Choose things that have special meaning: a serving dish that you used every Thanksgiving, old family photos, books by your favourite author, a sewing machine, a few pieces of special jewelry, or one of your favourite paintings.
Technology has made our lives better and easier in so many ways, but it has also made our lives busier and has changed our perspective on what we deem important. Don’t get too caught up in the madness of the minimalism trend. Instead, make choices about your possessions that feel right to you, and remember that some objects are valuable not because of how much they’re worth, but because they connect generations and preserve a familial bond.