It has been five years since I wrote about being a pack rat, yet I still confess that the syndrome exists. As I am preparing for my move to New York, I once again face the process of sorting through things that I have accumulated over several years. Generally speaking, I actually welcome the clean-up process because I get to donate things that are no longer useful to me anymore (and hopefully useful to someone else), recycle papers and boxes, and so forth.
Yesterday, the bottom shelf (and the largest) of my bookcase contained an entire row of books and materials for the GMAT. This was even after I had donated three books to a friend. I had books from two different test preparation companies, an extra set of Official Guide books, general admissions books, and finally — the six notebooks that had documented my problem sets, practice exams, tutoring sessions, and everything that you could imagine related to the exam. These notebooks were of great importance in my life for the last two years. This leads me to have some sort of emotional attachment to them, as one were to view old pen pal letters. Well, it may not have that same type of sentiment…Nevertheless, countless hours were put into these notebooks as I toiled through problem after problem, especially through some of the toughest times of my life. Each notebook itself was not the vehicle to get me through 2008-2009, but I still clearly remember it as my outlet and motivation to move forward with things.
Now that I am deciding which belongings go in the Keep or Toss piles, I don’t exactly have the heart to put my notebooks in the Toss pile. Before my exam (and even immediately after), I casually mentioned that I would dispose/burn/recycle/sell anything related to it, but now that I am at that decision point, I choke a little.
From a practicality standpoint, I will most likely never reference them again. Then again, I will never reference my old school work (K-12 and college), yet I still have those at home in California.
What would you do?
Depends on how those materials make you feel, you should make the ultimate decision. I’m the type of person to toss 99% of pictures and to keep the few that I like, whereas others go shutter crazy and document every picture that they’ve taken whether on vacation or through various events in life.
Some like the feeling of knowing that they have these tangible memories…some look at it as clutter (me) hahaha. So from my standpoint, I would toss it but being the type of person who does not like to impose my beliefs, just wanted to give you another perspective to the opposite pack ratter. haha good luck!
You make a good point. Though I’m still sitting here, staring at the notebooks
if they make you feel good- KEEP IT! It’ll bring you good memories