When I was pregnant with my oldest my grandmother died. It was a hard time for our family as she a very strong woman who held our family together. Upon her passing I inherited a lot of her household items because we were just starting out. My grandmother was a baker and sold the bread, cookies, pies and rolls she made to everyone. So she had a huge collection of pie plates, loaf pans and everything that goes with baking. I took it all, everything and I don't bake enough to justify having all of the wares for a small bakery. Slowly, over the last 10 years I have started giving things away or selling them. I have now four pie plates, a set of stainless steel mixing bowls, cook books, and other utensils.
Today I put one of the pie plates into a bag for donations. Yes it pulled at my heart a little but I have to remember that these things aren't my grandmother. Do I need a pie plate to remember her? No. Am I every going to use four pie plates at the same time? Probably not. So why keep something that I am most likely never going to use. If my grandmother were here she would say "Why are you keeping all this junk?" So why am I?
I think we are often afraid that by giving away or getting rid of things that a loved one gave to us we will be offending them or giving up a piece of them we are still holding on to. I always remind myself of my ultimate goal to live simply and holding onto things doesn't help me meet that goal. I will always have my memories of my grandma dancing in her dinning room with me, I don't need a pie plate to remember that.
If you are starting to downsize you don't have to get rid of those items with emotional attachments right away. It has taken me a lot of time to give up some things but I eventually do. Minimalism isn't about making yourself uncomfortable, for me it is about simplifying how I live.
-H
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