Souvenir-Clutter 'Lemonade'
When life hands you lemons, we know what we are supposed to do with them, but what if life hands you things that are not as useful? For many people, going on a trip is an excuse to show they are thinking about friends and family by buying them a souvenir. While a it was a nice gesture, the item probably doesnt go with anything you own or you might not even really like it! But is it wrong or ungrateful to let these trinkets go?
Generally, when someone buys you a gift, they simply want you to know that they cared enough about you to get you something even though they were off having fun. They did not buy you that thing because they wanted you to hold onto it forever. If you dont have any place to display it out or use it for easy-access, then what is the sense in keeping it locked away in a storage place?
They would likely prefer you be happy and thrive in your clutter-free environment. Plus, if they ever even notice its absence (they likely wont) then you can explain to them that you still appreciate the wonderful thought that the gift represented.
It may also be a good idea to tell people ahead of time that they dont need to get you a souvenir, but if they feel like they have to, then you could suggest something edible. Edible souvenirs are easy to get rid of (yum) and also have an expiration date, so its an easy decision when cutting clutter. Soon youll be making Clutter-lemonade with the stuff life hands you.
Brandon Smith -Free Your Space - February 25, 2010
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