topic: sentimentality with possessions 

when doing a Kon-mari tidying marathon, you declutter by category not location.  starting with the easiest to let go of (clothes) and ending with the hardest, (sentimental).  the idea is that by doing the easier groups first you are honing your editing skills by the end for when it gets real.  i think the hardest part of it all is that anything can be considered sentimental, even common pocket litter like a ticket stub or a candy wrapper.

you can't keep it all, yet as i was telling my son i was going to go through his old school art and edit some out he says " well, once it's gone, it's gone."  yikes.

sentimental items can be very hard to edit especially if they are possessions from a loved one that is gone or a moment in time that passed such as your child's early years. i think the best way to approach sentimental sorting and discarding is at a slow pace.  work on it when you feel the right frame of mind.

categorize all of your sentimental type items together in bins/boxes, such as: photos, letters, childhood items. maybe even by person they represent or life periods. start by tossing out any easy to let go of stuff like photos of asshole exes along with their letters. then start the true process of Kon-mari which is picking the stuff you love and really want to hold on to.  items that transport you to moments of nostalgia.  review what's left and consider if it really holds true sentiment.  more items doesn't necessarily mean a more vivid trip down memory lane.

after gathering up the best mementos what to do with them?  most organizational experts will say you are not honoring these items if you don't display them. and yes, items that can be displayed or used should be,  however most of these items are not going to be objets d'art.  i had a friend that used shadow boxes and put ticket stubs, photos, receipts, paper umbrellas etc. from vacations and hung them on the wall in her entryway, and if that's your thing then hook that up.  i am actually in favor of keeping these precious bits stashed away, in something i call a sentimental plunder bin.   being able to physically dig through these mementos, hold them in your hands, and reflect on thoughts makes them all the more powerful and sentimental.  it's like opening a time capsule, an old steamer trunk from the attic, a Harry Potter pensieve and diving mind and heart into the past. 

 topic: thrift stores and acquiring

i love me some thrift store shopping!  it's an adventure, you can find unique stuff, and the prices are fantastic.  i have been at it for 30+ years .  the primary reason has been to seek out neat vintage stuff at a major bargain to funk up my abode.  but that stuff can start piling up if you aren't careful.  i have reduced my stash over the decades by several means.  I first tried ebay when it was in its infancy and didn't have very good success.  i had to list items several times and then only sold them at a break even cost. then ebay takes a bite and there's all the packaging and shipping costs to figure, driving the boxes to the PO, and god help you if the buyer has an issue... so not worth my time or the nickels i earned. I have had several yard sales over the years which i sell shit for cheap, quarters.  buy 1 item get 10 free. i have also sold things on craigslist which were higher dollar items like a push lawn mower and a violin.  and lastly I've just donated or gave stuff away.

about 4 years ago i decided to Kon-mari my house and that was the true turning point for me that curved my high acquiring.  when you have to face all of the shit you own and know you did this, it is a wake up call.  also understanding that everything has to have a place and not shoved into a storage bin for 'later use' or some hair brained upcycle crafting BS.  

i think one of the conflicts that goes on in the mind of hard core thrift store shoppers such as myself is that it's a hunt and a thrill.  if you leave empty handed it can almost feel like a waste of time, a let down.  that kind of thinking has to be halted.  

after my Kon-Mari i reduced my thrift store shopping drastically.  i could now clearly see what my house could comfortably hold and what areas may need a bit of junk on the wall.  so then i was shopping thrift stores with a purpose and i have a running list in my head of stuff i am looking for.  sure, i still hunt the whole store and sure, every now and again a random item comes home but not like before.  literally before if it was vintage and a decent price i bought it. Now if i come home empty handed i don't see it as defeat. i see it as a postive that i don't have some random item that i have to deal with/store/maintain.  it's a victory.