There is something strangely comforting about holding on to things, knowing very well that it doesn’t have any use to us anymore. A bunch of stuffed toys that we collected as children, diaries that we only filled up halfway, a birthday card from someone we barely speak to anymore, clothes that no longer fit our style, or little things we just found and brought back home just because it was fascinating. Most of us have a collection of things we know we will probably never use again, yet somehow cannot bring ourselves to throw away.Â
As a child, I collected about 13 of these stuffed animals called “Beanie Boos”. I remember placing all of them by my side around my head before going to bed, every single night for about a year and a half. It made me feel protected from “anything that would grab my foot from under the bed and take me away”. However, after I hit the ripe age of 10, I packed everything in a bag and shoved it into my closet. Now, they’re all sitting somewhere in my loft. While I did try to get myself to give it away to my new born cousins, a part of me wanted to just keep it, even though I’d never really “play” with those stuffed animals again.Â
I have noticed that in cases like this, we tell ourselves that we might need these things again someday, that they could come in handy, or that we simply haven’t found the right time to get rid of them. But perhaps the reason goes a little deeper than that. Sometimes, keeping something is less about its usefulness and more about the memories, feelings, and little pieces of our lives that we associate with it.
One of the biggest reasons we hold on to things is nostalgia. Objects have a peculiar way of taking us back to moments we might have otherwise forgotten. A show ticket can remind us of an afternoon spent with family, an old school uniform can bring back memories of classrooms and familiar faces, and a handwritten note can take us back to a time when everything felt a little different. These objects become more than just things; they become reminders of people, places, and experiences that once meant something special to us. And getting rid of them can sometimes feel like getting rid of a small part of our past. Even when we know that a memory does not disappear just because an object does, there is still something reassuring about having a physical reminder of it. In my case, I don’t want to let go of my stuffed animals from my childhood, or birthday cards that I received from people that I don’t even talk to anymore. Perhaps that is why we all keep certain things tucked away, waiting for the occasional moment when we stumble upon them again, and find ourselves travelling years back in time.
Another reason we struggle to let things go is the possibility that we might need something someday. We keep old chargers, empty jars, gift bags, clothes, and countless other things because throwing them away feels like making a decision we might regret later. There is always that little voice in our heads saying, “What if I need this next week?” or “What if I can’t find another one?”. This habit often turns our cupboards and drawers into storage spaces for things we have completely forgotten about. It is not even the object itself that we are attached to, but the idea of its potential usefulness. I have noticed that we convince ourselves that everything has a purpose, even when it has spent the last five years collecting dust. In a way, holding on to these things gives us a sense of security. Letting go, on the other hand, requires us to accept that we may never need them again, and that can be surprisingly difficult.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about the objects we keep is how they reflect our relationship with time. We hold on to things because they remind us of who we once were. The clothes we once loved, the hobbies we once enjoyed, and the little things we once considered important may no longer have a place in our lives. Yet, we continue to make room for them, almost as if keeping them will allow us to preserve the versions of ourselves that once existed. Of course, there is nothing wrong with keeping a few things that hold sentimental value. Not everything needs to be thrown away simply because it has become old or unnecessary. However, there is also something freeing about recognising when we are holding on just because we are used to having something around. After all, memories do not live in objects, and moving forward does not mean forgetting where we came from. Sometimes, the things we haven’t used in years are simply just reminders of how much life has changed, and perhaps learning to let go of a few of them is just another way of making space for everything that is yet to come.