I grew up in a home where you NEVER got rid of a book EVER. Especially if you were given a book, you had to put your name in it and haul it around and be guilty about it for the rest of your life. Friends, you are allowed get rid of those stupid high school annuals. It’s also OK to pitch a 40-year-old obsolete textbook. You don’t have to keep these things forever. I wish I’d dumped them years ago instead of hauling them across the country twice. They didn’t mean anything; they were just the dead weight of bad memories.

I donated 4 college annuals to a large charity yard sale and haven’t missed them, either.

Another happy removal from my home was a piece of artwork by one of my college instructors who was a better artist than a human being. Even though I’d spent money I couldn’t afford to have that thing framed 30 years ago, I realized that every time I looked it, there was a negative association with the artist. When the consignment shop wouldn’t take it, it went to the charity yard sale as well and it’s been nothing but a relief to have it gone.

If you’ve been hanging on to stuff because you think you’d feel guilty if you got rid of it, just try dumping one (or more!) of these emotionally charged burdens and you’ll be amazed how good you feel.

I have seen people take items to organizations to which they belong and offer to others. Usually someone takes the items .

The “I can’t part this with” is replaced with joy knowing that someone else will enjoy what you gave them. We like to hear “thank you” which builds our self-esteem. We are helping ourselves by helping others.