Isn’t it nice when someone gives you a gift?  It really is, you know they were thinking about you, they wanted to make you happy and they spent time and money to buy you something.  Does that mean you have to keep it forever?  Does that mean they will be mad at you if you don’t display it at all times?  What if you don’t like it-do you have to keep it?  Part of home organization is letting go of excess items-even if they were gifts.

There is a huge guilt factor about getting rid of something that someone else gave us.  I know it, I’ve felt it myself.  But receiving a gift really isn’t about the material item, it’s about the thought behind it and the deepening of the relationship you have with that person.  They thought about you, you received and expressed appreciation for the gift and your connection was made.  That’s the key right there.  Once that has been accomplished, you really don’t have to keep it forever!  If someone gives you flowers, you probably don’t feel guilty throwing them away once they’ve died.  At least I hope you don’t!  Now you don’t have the flowers anymore, but you still have the memories that this person did something special for you and you have a deeper connection with them.

Always be appreciative of a gift, but don’t feel obligated to keep it forever.  Maintain your own home organization by passing on those gifts to someone else who can enjoy them!

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Tags: gifts, guilt, home organization tip