Can Writing Become Clutter?

Is it time to let go?

I have so many notebooks. Piles upon piles.

They are in my room, in drawers, in the sunroom, in various boxes and a few small filing cabinets. Those are just a few spots.

All of these notebooks carry thoughts of my life, my doubts, my fears. Some are unfinished books other are rants about jobs I hated.

I'm not sure what's in all of those notebooks, most are venting. There are journals in the mix. I can’t help to wonder if there are memories I want to revisit. Maybe someday? Then there are also times I don’t want to revisit either. Do I want to read over all of them just to find a few words I do want to keep?

One my bins that houses my writing.

Memories on paper

My memories are now and I don’t what to hold onto these scribbles and rants anymore. They served their purpose at the time. Many are 3 a.m. writings of my deepest worries and fears. Or I thought they were. So much of that doesn't matter anymore.

I guess the saying “open book” applies to me in a way. If you read my writing here or on paper those words are usually true.

Am I going to go through them before I throw away? Maybe a quick scan? Or not. Do I want to spend time to go through them. Maybe there are things I don’t want to remember again. Ever.

I wrote longhand before there were computers. Even now I am writing on pen and paper, notebooks are therapeutic to me.

I have to decide if I want to hang onto these thoughts on paper. I don’t think I do.

Will I toss out these memories without burning pages or shredding papers? There may be pages of the “Diaries of Jane” floating around out there decades from now.

What would they find? A woman who struggled with self-esteem, grief, workplace stress, but also writing today I went shopping and found nothing. There is more if you'd want to decipher my cursive writing.

What to keep?

I also hold on to a few journals from my mom and grandmother. Thoughts on paper so difficult for me to toss. These aren't endless rants though. They would write about ice skating one day or baking a birthday cake. Pretty mundane, but not to me. Those small journals I find fascinating and I will keep.

Who knows maybe I will keep a small journal about myself. For now, it's time to let go and free up space for what is now.

Question:

Are there objects that you have a difficult time letting go of?