EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENTS

Letting go of items that have an emotional value can be hard. ‘It’s difficult, especially if they’ve been inherited, but would the person who gave you the item truly expect you to keep something you didn’t want?’ asks clinical psychologist Linda Blair. Here is how you can preserve memories:

✢ Donate it to a place where it might be better appreciated.

✢ Sell it and donate the money to a good cause, or buy something that will remind you of that person instead.

✢ Save the special things you want to keep in a memory box, and take photos of the rest for a dedicated album. ‘Studies show that photos spark exactly the same emotions and memories as the actual item,’ reassures Vicky.

✢ Nostalgic memorabilia, such as old theatre tickets and children’s drawings, can look wonderful displayed in box frames, and are an instant reminder of something special that happened or a particular time in your life.