I help people throw things away for a living. We all need to shed so many things! But it’s more than a process of tossing things in the trash. Most memorabilia will tell you when it’s time to let them go. If something tugs at you when you hold it, keep it awhile. It is trying to tell you something: an unresolved issue, a place where you need to grow.

Don’t just put things in the trash. Recycle the paper, donate the clothing, books, knick knacks and household items — or sell them if they’re good enough and you’ve got the time. You’ll get the satisfaction of knowing that pieces of your life that you know longer need will perhaps help someone else to build a life.

Not to mention it’s sustainable practice.