Photos, Papers and Documents 😱


🖼️ Photos, Papers & the Weight of Memory



The Emotional Work of Decluttering What We’ve Kept the Longest


Good afternoon, friends,


Over the past few weeks, I’ve shifted gears and started organizing two deeply personal categories:

Photos and my kids’ old school papers.


And in one word?

EXHAUSTING. 😅





📷 Photos: A Journey Through Time



I wish I could say this process was easy—and that I felt lighter as soon as I was done. But I’m not quite done yet. Still, I do feel good about the progress I have made so far.


I tackled all the photo albums from our living room—around 30 albums in total—and pared them down to 18. Not bad, right?


Thanks to digital help, I was able to scan some of the most precious photos, though I’ll admit: I don’t have a photo scanner I love, and I’ve made a firm little promise to myself:


No buying anything I don’t absolutely need right now.


So for now, I’m making do and would truly welcome any of your ideas or scanner recommendations if you’ve walked this road before!





🎨 Kids’ Art & School Papers: From 20 Boxes to 5



This part—while still emotional—was oddly easier than I expected.


I had kept every single drawing, project, and note from my children since they were about two years old. You can imagine the volume. Twenty full office boxes kind of volume.


Most of it went straight into the recycling bin, with love. I kept a curated handful of treasures, and we’re now down to five boxes total. That’s a victory I can feel in my body—lighter, clearer, freer.





🗃️ Old Documents & The Fire of Closure



Sorting through old office paperwork also brought surprises—like a complete file for a car we sold ten years ago, and even paperwork from my college days (and let’s just say I’m now firmly and proudly planted in middle age).


For these types of documents, I recommend doing a bit of research on how long to keep paperwork for tax or legal reasons (varies by state and purpose).


But for those papers that no longer serve?

I’m planning something a little symbolic:


A small fire in our outdoor fireplace to say goodbye.

A moment of closure.

A ceremonial release of what’s long behind me.





🛑 The Joy of Not Buying



Back to that promise I made to myself—no unnecessary purchases.

And honestly? It’s been easier than I expected.


I used to worry most about book buying—a habit I’ve always cherished. But instead of adding new titles, I started exploring my existing Audible and Kindle libraries… and guess what?


I found real treasures I had forgotten I owned.


Just last week, I finished Wolf Boys, a book I’d purchased years ago and never read. It was incredible—and a reminder that joy is often waiting right under our noses.





🎨 Rediscovering Joy Through Painting



Another beautiful surprise?

I’ve started painting again.


Not only does it bring me peace and creativity—it’s something I could begin without spending a single cent, because I already had all the supplies.


Sometimes the most freeing thing isn’t adding something new—

It’s rediscovering what’s already ours.




Wherever you are on your own journey, whether buried in photo boxes or wrestling with old receipts—be gentle with yourself. This is sacred work.


Hugs,

Anke



 

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