When It's Hard to Say Goodbye to Sentimental Items

I have a question that’s a bit off-topic. I’ve been keeping my wedding dress for 14 years, as well as my husband’s suit from our wedding. I feel like I’m finally ready to let them go, but I hesitate—I’m afraid of superstitions and unsure of the "right" way to part with these items. Do you have any information or advice on this?

I want to revisit a recent comment ⬆️ and once again touch on the topic of parting with sentimental items. This can be a deeply emotional process, and I’d like to offer support to those who find it particularly difficult.

In my work, I encounter this often, especially when it comes to children's items, gifts from loved ones, wedding keepsakes, or belongings of people who are no longer with us.

Here are a few thoughts that may help:

1. Respect Your Feelings

The most important thing, in my opinion, is to honor your emotions.

Don’t let anyone tell you: "Why do you even need this?" or "I sold mine right away!" or "Why are you making such a big deal out of it?"Statements like these imply that someone else knows best, presenting their perspective as the only correct one.

There is no single “right” way to feel.

We all relate to objects differently.

• Someone who experienced postpartum depression or struggled for years to have a child may find it unbearable even to look at baby clothes, let alone sort through them.

• Another person with a similar experience might feel the opposite—wanting to let go of these items quickly to close that chapter.

• And for someone who had an easy, joyful journey, keeping every tiny onesie may feel like a way to cherish beautiful memories.

We have the right to feel whatever we feel—sadness, worry, or fear of letting go.Our relationship with objects is shaped by our unique life experiences, and it won’t suddenly change just because someone says, "You should do this instead."

2. Reflect on What These Items Truly Mean to You

Give yourself time to process the idea of letting go.

Ask yourself:

• What will happen if these things are no longer in my life?

• What do they represent to me?

• What beliefs are attached to them?

  
  

Try shifting your focus from thoughts like "I should really do something about this—donate, sell" to exploring what’s behind your hesitation.

• Is it guilt over wasted money?

• A belief in superstitions?

• Discomfort at the idea of someone else using your belongings?

Sometimes, there’s simply a quiet but persistent voice inside saying, "I just can’t." And that’s okay. The more anxious we feel, the harder it is to say goodbye.

3. Preserve the Memory, Not the Object

A great idea that someone once shared with me: Transform sentimental items into something new.

• A wedding dress or a baby’s first outfit can be repurposed into another meaningful item.

• Or you can simply take a beautiful photo and keep it in an album.

This way, the memory stays even if the physical object does not.

4. Gently Shift Your Perspective on Objects

There’s a thought I once heard that truly resonated with me, and maybe it will for you too:

We are all here temporarily, and the things we own are just borrowed for a time.

When we look at our belongings this way, their significance—even the most sentimental ones—feels a little lighter.

This simple mindset shift can help move us from "This is mine forever" to "I have enjoyed this, and now I can let it go."