At least we now live in an age where we can inexpensively and easily take pictures of the physical objects that inspire memories. I'm finding that to be very helpful in letting go of objects that I don't actively use or enjoy, but that I otherwise would have liked to have held onto for the memories they inspire. I figure that the memories can just as easily be inspired by a picture of the item as by the item itself.
I've decided to cut myself a little break and plan to hold onto one box of physical photographs and paper mementos (cards, etc.): the best of the best. I'll see whether I can keep the resolve to get rid of all of the rest. Actually, I know I will be breaking it slightly, since there is one album of my son's childhood that is too large to fit into the box. I just can't bear to throw those pics into the trash. But even so, if I can otherwise hold to my resolve, I will have eliminated many boxes of stuff.
