So I have a problem. Sentimentalizing everything. I’ll give you an example do you can try to understand what I am getting at.

At Christmas I receive a gift card from my dad. For Accessorize let’s say. I deliberate over what to buy with the gift card because once it had been spent the gift becomes whatever I have bought. So I bought a pair if shoes. Lovely shoes. Shoes that I can wear whatever the weather, bar snow, and ones that are both stylish and comfy.

However the downside to liking these shoes so much is that I wear them about three times a week and they are not leather so are beginning to become a little worn and tired looking. Soon I will need to throw them away and that’s when my problem kicks in.

I have attached a little sentimental tag to them. In my brain the shoes are a gift from my dad so throwing them away would be like throwing something special.

A little odd I know. The problem is I attach these sentimental tags to most things and have issues parting with things even if I don’t need them anymore or they are old. Take a pair of trousers that I bought when I was a student. I haven’t worn then for about fifteen years now. They are hideously small for me now but i have still hung onto them because they remind me of my crazy days at uni.

Sentimentality prevents me from giving them away even though if they did fit me I wouldn’t wear them, the fabric is very 90s. A pair of fitted trousers in a dark purple snake-skin with a small boot kick. Amazing at the time but sadly that look hasn’t made it back into fashion…

I am trying to stop myself from having a home filled with stuff, things I buy myself are not always filled with fond memories but I do struggle with items that have been given as gifts.

Am I alone in this silly problem?