Letting Go With Love

February is often painted as a month of love. but for so many of us, it’s also a month of memory. The cards tucked in drawers. The baby clothes in bins. The gifts we kept because we didn’t want to hurt someone’s feelings. The photos, the notes, the “I’ll deal with this later” boxes.

Sentimental items hold stories.

They hold versions of us.

They hold emotions we haven’t touched in years.

And for ADHD or overwhelmed brains, sentimental clutter can feel like the heaviest clutter of all.

This month, I want to offer you a gentler way to approach it.

Why Sentimental Items Feel So Hard

It’s not because you’re “too emotional” or “bad at letting go.”

It’s because your brain stores memories in objects — especially when life has been busy, chaotic, or emotionally full.

Sentimental items activate:

• Identity

• Nostalgia

• Grief

• Guilt

• Love

• Hope

• And sometimes… avoidance

You’re not decluttering objects.

You’re processing stories.

A Gentle February Practice: The 3‑Item Sentimental Sweep

Choose ONE category:

• Cards

• Kids’ artwork

• Old clothes

• Gifts

• Photos

Then:

-  Pick 3 items

 - Keep 1 with intention

-  Release 2 with compassion

You don’t have to declutter your whole past.

Just one tiny moment at a time.

A Question to Ask Yourself This Month

When you pick up a sentimental item, try asking:

“Do I need the item to keep the memory?”

If the answer is no, you’re allowed to release it with gratitude.

If the answer is yes, you’re allowed to keep it without shame.

Both are valid.

Both are healing.