Big Memories - Tiny Objects

In my work with simply light home, it is inevitable when working with clients that we come across objects that hold deep meaning, significance and memories.  Sometimes it is large collection of items or a large piece of furniture.  Sometimes these objects were chosen by the client and other times the objects were gifted to them by a friend or family member.  If the client loves and treasures the said objects and they help curate the energy the client is seeking and there is room for them I always encourage the client to follow their instincts.  This, however, is a rare occurrence.  What I see more often is that people are holding on to sentimental items out of guilt or grief. They fear getting rid of the object they will also lose the memories.  One day in meditation I started thinking about this very situation that so many people find themselves in.  I can relate.  As someone who has lost both sets of grandparents and my dad I have found myself in the very position my clients are in.  In my years of simplifying and continuing to refine my own environment I realized that my solution without realizing it was by keeping and treasuring small items that bring back many memories.

This small ceramic dish, about 2 inches in diameter, sits on my bedside table.  It belonged to my maternal grandmother Clara.  I remember it sitting on her dresser in her bedroom.  I remember picking it up and holding it in my hand, smooth and cold. When I now see it, hold it in my hand and use it to put my earrings in at night (same as my grandma used to do) I think of her.  I remember her showing me her jewelry.  I remember watching her put pressed powder on her face.  I remember all the details of her home on Kasoag lake in upstate NY that she shared with my grandpa.  I remember the walks we would take, the rowboat rides, the geese that would visit each day.  This tiny object triggers all of these memories and more.  It gets me thinking about my aunts and my cousins.  My great grandma. The family picnics and so much more.  I don’t even remember how I came into possession of this tiny item but I am grateful to have it now.

This pillow was hand-stitched by my paternal grandmother Wilma.  It has sat on my bed as long as I can remember, even as far back as my college days.  It is only 8”x8” and made of my favorite colors, sapphire blue and deep pink.  I love it.  To me it is beautiful and it brings me joy.  Just as the tiny dish from grandma Clara brings too many memories to count, this pillow triggers a waterfall of memories of my grandma Wilma.  Swinging on her glider swing with peanut butter apples, picking swiss chard from the garden, playing on her back porch for hours, sitting next to her in church.

My dad, Tom, was an earth science teacher.  He had this stone bowl on his dresser and the rocks (that are now covered in crochet to preserve their specialness to not get confused with other collected rocks) used to sit on the bookcase in his office.  My dad’s passing was in recent years so the memories associated with these items are much more tender and they trigger a whole lifetime of memories of him.

With all of the above, tiny items I shared here what stands out to me are the memories they trigger.  They are physical items I adore and enjoy looking at but many of the memories that come flooding in have nothing specific to do with the item.  I encourage clients when facing large and ominous pieces and collections that they don’t adore and love (or have the room for) to choose a few special things that have meaning and bring joy.

Another suggestion I heard recently from @theminimalists who I follow on instagram (they are fantastic by the way,) was to take photos of items we want to let go of that hold many memories.  They made the excellent point that oftentimes it isn’t the object itself that triggers the memories, just the photo can sometimes do justice.  Here’s the thing though, and I don’t want this to be lost.  If you have a huge collection of something and you love it, it brings you joy and it adds to your life to have it in your environment, by all means keep it.  To me minimalism isn’t white walls, scandinavian type furniture and capsule wardrobes.  It is about refinement, intention and purpose; living as gently as we can upon the earth, surrounded by what we use and love, arranged in a way that lifts the energy of a space and brings us peace.