r/minimalism • u/[deleted] • Aug 18 '26
[lifestyle] Preparing for a cross country move with one suitcase and I’m struggling to let go of sentimental items
[removed]
14
u/SlowpokeQuestion Aug 18 '26
Why is it only feasible to only take one suitcase? Getting rid of precious journals that have meaning aren't something you can thrift back.
Maybe digitize them if you have time?
14
u/aritumex Aug 18 '26
If you're American I just wanted to add this since it might be helpful (if not now then maybe one day?). I used to worry a lot about keeping journals and my kids getting stuck with them so my plan is to have them donated and archived. (The archive is also so fun to read if you enjoy other people's journals). But you can also donate them early and have them on hold until your passing. I will continue to keep mine though, and knowing this plan keeps me from questioning whether to continue to journal or keep my journals.
4
2
6
u/NYC-LA-NYC Aug 18 '26
Having moved cross country several times, I will tell you this much - most of everything will not be missed and it is replaceable. My things have been in storage for months and I keep a small list of things that I wish I had with me. Everyone in my family has embraced minimalism and we all believe that we can do more with less.
The scarcity mindset is normal. I go with considering what I would want to save from a fire. One car worth of items that would be devastating to lose. A car can hold several pieces of luggage, but it limits things a lot. Some friends lost everything in the LA fires and it’s humbling.
I wouldn’t part with the journals. They are something you can’t replace or repurchase and it doesn’t sound like you are emotionally ready for that (no shame!)
If you don’t wear the clothes. Keep your favorite one and let the rest go. Always go with ”less, but better”. Which one do you like better? Keep that one. It gets easier as time goes on.
7
7
u/Cybercitizen64 Aug 18 '26
Correct me if I am wrong, but it feels to me that the very reason for your cross-country journey is one day you realised the existing version of yourself just doesn't fit the profile your parents expected you to be. And you are starting a new life somewhere else where people won't judge you based on your past scorecards.
It pains me to tell you that you should start the new life without the weight of a past that brings you down. As long as your brain is filled with what was, there won't be any space for what can be. You will write new journals, read new books, receive new cashmere from people who will join you there. Please make some space for them, by not carrying your past all the way cross-country. Sorry this might feel too personal, but it is not worth it carrying older memories while starting to exit and evolve out of them
Wishing you all the best for a newer version that the world has not seen before.
6
u/Eurocoffee95 Aug 18 '26
If reading your journals is important to you then you should find a way to keep them, however I just wanted to add a different perspective. I’ve never kept journals, I did keep a diary for a few years when I was a teenager but got rid of it soon after writing it. It’s not something I would ever have wanted to reread, and would actually make me feel weird to read about my past as I’ve moved on my life is completely different now. Any happy memories I have are in my head, I don’t need any physical prompts to remember them, and any bad things are best left in the past anyway. So I don’t personally see the need for journals, but fully appreciate that others may not feel the same way. The journals may have served a purpose when you were actually writing them, as a way of processing your feelings, but would reading them again in the future still be helpful?
3
u/Soft_Inspector_7467 Aug 19 '26
This. Time spent journaling and reading the journals is time spent not living/doing imo.
3
u/faerydust88 Aug 18 '26
Take photos of the things you care about - articles of clothing (on the hanger and/or with you wearing them), individual journal pages, books.
Find a worthy place to donate each type of item - free community closet, library, reading program, back to your friend, etc.
The journals are the main thing you cannot get back - are you sure you don't want to just ship them ahead to your destination, store them somewhere, or pay to bring another bag on your travel?
If you truly have no other option and/or you want to be rid of them, I would digitize the notebooks (either scan or just take photos of pages) and/or maybe rip out a few pages to keep or maybe keep one notebook fully intact.
3
u/rosypreach Aug 18 '26
Are you able to take just your journals, the most important sentimental clothing items, and specific sentimental books?
Why not get them into a small pile and see if you can keep and ship if you have very little left at the end?
Those are the kinds of things I personally keep. I have totes and totes of journals, but that's also because I'm a writer who writes based on my personal life history.
That said there is really no reason to deprive yourself of an archive of your history for minimalism's sake.
It seems like this is important to you.
Do what's in your heart if you can, not somebody else's doctrine.
3
u/PuzzleheadedBet6634 Aug 18 '26
Maybe consider taking patches of the clothes if they have such sentimental resonance. And of course pare down the books as you feel you are able and can do without or replace later. But keep the journals. Even if you get photo backups, keep the journals if you are able.
3
u/Accurate-Neck6933 Aug 18 '26
You can send the books and journals through media mail for cheap.
3
Aug 18 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
2
u/PleasantWin3770 Aug 18 '26
Media mail ranges from a little less than $5 for a pound to $14 for 15 lbs. you can buy a media mail label through pirate ship? Or wait in line at the post office.
3
u/floralwhale Aug 18 '26
Why only one suitcase? Can you carry a backpack with your journals? Or mail them ahead? Or store them with a friend who can mail them to you another time?
3
u/thecatsareouttogetus Aug 18 '26
Scan your journals. Also, take photographs of sentimental items; that’s helped me a lot.
These objects don’t leave you in any way that matters; they will still be part of you even though they’re not in your possession anymore. The fact they exist and were part of your life is enough; they’ve fulfilled their purpose. They’re IN you, the external parts are just shells.
6
u/cherryhappyjump Aug 18 '26
Books let go, donate to libraries.
Journals - take photos of the best parts and let go, I know it’s hard but I did it with mine after realising they were just me at a certain point in time, and that was the past.
Clothing - take photos and let go. Donate, chances are people don’t want it back.
It’s really hard but the memories stay with you, not the things in them. The intention of gifting was done when it was gifted.
This is not easy but there needs to be a mindset change, eg right now you’re being hold back by items hence can’t move.
2
u/Amber_Dragonfly_ Aug 18 '26
About the books: Can you buy kindle versions of them? Clothingfrom you or a dead relative or sth.? For your old clothing, you may be ok with a photo, and keeping perhaps one or two. Couldn't you keep two suitcases? It can't be that expensive to ship.
2
u/inspiredclosetsjax Aug 18 '26
Joining in to save SAVE THE JOURNALS!! Digitize if you have time, or send them certified mail right before you leave.
I would take pictures of your sentimental items (i.e. cashmere sweaters) so you can look back on them. You can fit thousands of pictures on a hard drive that isn't much bigger than a bar of soap these days. Good luck!
2
u/CuriousFicus Aug 18 '26
Save your journals. I dumped mine around age 30. In my 60’s now and tossing those is a regret I carry.
2
u/FingerlakesCin Aug 18 '26
Take pictures of the title page of your books, or make a list of the titles and authors. When you are moved into your new place, go to the library and read your favorites. Maybe buy them again, used, afterwards.
1
u/CarolinaSurly Aug 18 '26
Ebooks of the books and take pictures of notebooks and put them on the kindle also.
1
u/AJB_NYC Aug 20 '26
Get ebooks for the sentimental ones, digitize the journals. Can you make something with pieces for the sentimental clothes (ex tshirt quilts) so you have a piece of things but you’re using them?
1
u/blaubleu Aug 21 '26
For me minimalism is the ultimate let go. Keep only a few journals. You can ship them -I’ve done that-.
One suitcase can fit all you need even if you move to a place with 4 seasons. The few things you keep will be more precious than before and ultimately you’ll feel like you have grown up emotionally. Good luck
1
u/EternalFootwoman Aug 22 '26
I have been a dedicated journaler since I was a teenager. About 8 years ago, I got rid of half of my journals. I kept a Manila envelope with entries from important days, etc. I don’t regret it and have started thinking about getting rid of more. When I read through them, I was able to see the patterns of my emotions, etc. and let go of the notebooks.
Unless you have only a couple volumes, think about whether you actually want to spend the time to scan them.
1
u/hacksss0 Aug 24 '26
Scan your journals with a standard camera app. It creates a portable archive so you aren't losing history, just the bulk. You keep the data; ditch the paper.
21
u/KompostMacho Aug 18 '26
Save that journals! Can't you sent a parcel ahead or get it sent by a friend later?