Why do we toss?

So! You're looking for something you really need, and you can't find it. If you were ascetic, it would be sitting on your nightstand from when you used it last night, because you only keep things you really need. Okay, okay, not everyone restricts themselves to things they only need. But most people have things that they
a) don't know exist
b) would be better off without
c) want to get rid of, but feel guilty doing so

Let's start with a).

You're attacking the junk in the attic, and you find a bunch of boxes full of stuff that you never knew existed. Some of the stuff is really cool, like old Christmas ornaments. Some of it you can easily throw away. How much of it should you keep?
1. BE REASONABLE.
- Don't keep items for which you have no occasion. For example, a 1950s poodle skirt isn't a good idea if you are never going to a sock hop (which is likely) and pink isn't your color. Don't keep a beautiful handcrafted birdcage if you're never going to have pet birds.
- Similarly, don't make occasions just so you can use your junk. Don't buy a dog to give your dog collar some exercise.
- Don't keep things if you don't have somewhere to put them. This is an easy way to limit yourself. This leads to clutter.
2. BE HONEST
- Don't keep gorgeous antique Christmas ornaments if you're Jewish and are going to keep them in storage for the rest of your life. Maybe keep one or two if they have sentimental value, but give the rest to your Christmas-celebrating friends or sell them. Or donate them at Christmastime to someone who will actually use and love them.
3. REMEMBER
- If you've lived happily for [insert your age here] years without knowing the object existed, you can keep on living happily. Unless you're a crusader and you find the Holy Grail in your attic, your life won't change for the worse by getting rid of it.

Good! Now we can move on to b).

1. Weigh benefits/losses: If you have a stack of books you would like to read but they're taking up space you could use to put in, say, a potted plant, think of which you would like more. These two examples might not be the best, but it's just a way to examine which would make you happier. For more on this topic, skip down to part c)
2. Old relationships: My ex-boyfriend was a terrific gift-giver. Everything he gave me was exactly my taste...except that he wasn't. Now I'm cleaning out my room and trying to justify* keeping the things he gave me. One of them is a sweatshirt, perfect fit, exactly my style. The only problem is that every time I look at it I feel miserable. Toss!

Everything absorbed in your junk-addled brain? But I jest... time for c)!
1. Set aside your sentimentality: Your grandmother gave you a bracelet, and you never wear it, but you feel really bad because she was so happy when she gave it to you. First of all, I love my family just as much as someone who keeps junk, and throwing away sentimental items can be difficult. What you have to realize is that real love goes beyond objects, and if you want to think of your grandmother it might be better to frame a photo of the two of you together.
2. Find a good home for it: See the next blog!

*First TTA crime: NEVER justify! If you have to justify keeping something, TOSS IT!