Should I keep these?

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I was cleaning out my attic and came across several shoeboxes full of old diaries I had written from the age of seven onwards, together with letters, poems, drawings and various admission tickets to places I'd forgotten I'd been to. I was lost amongst these memories for hours, remembering things with clarity I would never have recalled otherwise. I am moving to a smaller home and as my boyfriend pointed out, these things take up space I can't really afford. Should I keep them, or dump them and risk losing these memories forever?

― Jeager Peabody (rumpypumpkin), Friday, 13 February 2004 17:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Several shoeboxes? Admittedly doesn't sound too space-taking but at the same time having moved to a smaller space myself a year ago I did have to reduce things down. My personal keepsakes when it comes to my childhood I winnow down on an irregular basis to what really has some sort of continuing value to me, so maybe it's time to do so with all that.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 13 February 2004 17:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes, keep them if you can. You can always throw them away later.

― Markelby (Mark C), Friday, 13 February 2004 17:14 (twenty-two years ago)

keep 'em, or scan them, at least.

― Kingfish Beatbox Botox Funktion (Kingfish), Friday, 13 February 2004 17:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Having reached the age of 49, I would kill for such a trove of childhood memorabilia. As several decades come between you and your childhood your sense of that younger self can become drastically reduced until it fades into a few sketchy memories you can't really trust. I think it is important to preserve a true and actual memory of that time, insofar as you can.

Even if the stuff seems trivial and childish to you, even a bit embarassing, I'd urge you to keep it. You are the only custodian of your life history. No one else (except maybe your parents) will ever do you this service. When it is gone, it's irreplaceable.

― Aimless, Friday, 13 February 2004 17:43 (twenty-two years ago)

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