My sister was cleaning out her basement and found my First Communion veil — a relic that is now 55 years old! She couldn’t bring herself to throw it away (even though she probably had it because she wore it in subsequent years to save money) — so she mailed it to me. I put it on, had a good laugh, took a few pictures — and promptly offered it to our 4-year-old neighbor to use for dress-up!
I have learned that it is easier (for me, anyway) not to accumulate things. If I add the veil to a nostalgia box, it will remain there until that same sister is cleaning out my basement after I’m gone. Better not to keep it at all if it’s not one of the precious few mementos that I wish to preserve. (Files of paper or books on the other hand…)
It is hard to get rid of things, despite what Marie Kondo preaches. Purging takes time and repeated decision-making depletes your emotional energy. Save yourself trouble on the back end by routinely donating, recycling, or tossing things you are no longer using. You can visit Memory Lane in photographs instead!
