My son is an eclectic collector of stuff. He keeps selected books, toys, gifts, souvenirs, bottles, boxes, and other memorabilia. He doesnt mind hand-me-downs too (provided of course they are not too dinghy) if they are meaningful items. Fortunately, most of the things that he likes are smallish and occupy relatively little space. Moreover, he is quite selective about what he keeps - not everything makes it to his gallery. When we asked him why he loves to collect, he shared that each and every item held a special and unique memory. I suppose their value isnt so much a reflection of their financial worth but their emotional and social capital. High on the list are items like a particular grubby cuddly toy bought in an enjoyable holiday destination by my wife and I, a rare set of premiums, or a 33 year old childrens book which is a keepsake from a bygone era. Naturally, there will come a time when we have to part with this items due to space constraints. When the occasion arrives, we will give them to those whom we feel will love and treasure them. If we cant find a suitable owner, we will try to sell them to the real karang guni man or give away to the Salvation Army (only very selectively). Only when we fail to do so would we dispose them - and always with a secret wish that somebody would rummage through our stuff and bring them back. I guess he will grow out of this hoarding phase (or maybe he wont). However, there is something to be said about why people like to keep stuff. It is never the commercial value of the possessions which matters (many are often freebies). Rather, these emotional and personal artefacts carry with them an intangible and intrinsic value which transcends time and place. Each and every item embody an occasion, person, milestone, or emotion which forms a thread woven into an individuals personal identity, vested with rich emotions and stories that only the beholder can truly appreciate. #personalheritage #lifestories
Posted on: Mon, 22 Sep 2014 00:33:49 +0000
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