Don’t underestimate sentimental value

Moving is hard work, especially when you are moving to something smaller than you are used to. My girlfriend and me are now moving to a one bedroom appartment with only so many room for storage space. I have to get rid of a lot of dvd’s and my girlfriend has to dispose of a lot of books, because we both had a huge collection. Before I was thrown out at my mom’s house, I even had more. More stuff to get rid off.

I already have disposed of a lot, just to be able to move to over here. When my mom threw me out the first time and I had to move back, my book collection stayed behind and the previous place I stayed and after a few months, my friends grandparents decided to throw them out, so there went my 300 books.

Now, to be able to have enough room for my stuff, I have to throw out 200 or more dvd’s I collected over the years.

I have learned something in this throwing, and disposing of stuff. The only thing that keeps me from throwing things out, are sentimental value. I had collector’s editions of dvd’s, like Scarface, but that doesn’t mean a thing to me now. I had all the Godfathers and was actually proud of my godfather collection, but never sat down watching part 2 and 3 of the trilogy, so out they went.

I kept a few dvd’s. I kept those that, following Marie Kondo’s advice, brought me joy. I am diagnosed with depression disorder, and I have had severe depression in the past (without taking any medicine for it). I got out of it. I got out of it by watching comedy dvd’s a lot. I have one dvd I know almost on the top of my head, that’s how much I watched it. I watched a movie like Yes man so many times that I still can replay it in my head (I watched it sometimes 5 times a day). Those I kept.

I kept stuff because I got it from a person very dear to me, like my first DVD was one I bought together with my dad. I actually remember my first DVD ever. My first DVD was Batman.

I have difficulty getting rid of some stuff that I got from my ex. I kept it in my hands and all the memories kept flooding back in, all at the same time, overwhelming me, like Pippin touching the palantir.

That’s the crazy thing about my autistic memory. I can when I see an object or touch an object, tell you almost in detail where I got it, how I got it, what it cost, etc. All those details come to me in a split second and I can’t stop it. I can’t filter it out. These are the things I have the hardest getting rid off.

Other stuff, I have no emotional connection with and I can dispose off quite easily, without any regrets.

But this is also a thing that might help me buy less stuff in the future. Do I think it is necessary to buy the thing I want to buy? Will it give me lasting impressions when I have to move and get rid off it? Would I try to salvage it in case a fire breaks out?

Mary Kondo’s question is valid, but I think other questions are more thoughtprovoking like the one I mentioned above: “In case of a fire, would I salvage this or would I just buy another one when I need it?” if you answer No to the first part of the question, throw it out, if it isn’t a necessity.

Necesarry items I don’t minimalise on are black t-shirts, as I wear one everyday, or underwear, for the very same reason. Some things are necessary, other things are luxury, and it’s balancing this line, that is the true challenge of a minimalist.