I ran across the little wire hooks used for Christmas ornaments in a junk drawer today. It led to the realization that much can be explained by what is found in this drawer.
Admit it, when you have a little something that amuses you or maybe even confuses you, it may end up in the drawer that holds all things kept.
This anatomy of a junk drawer not only holds a plethora of hidden stuff, but it also represents a collection of odds and ends of feelings. Tidbits of memories. Small tokens of the past. Items of experience. Treasures of the heart.
Objects sifted through have a way of announcing the feeling attached to them. Old ticket stubs from a play production; a cork from a fine bottle of wine; a plastic rabbit filled with crayons; sunglasses worn on vacation; a cell phone that technology replaced long ago; photos with torn edges; rubber bands, tape, and string that bind everything together.
How much can we learn from what we keep? Who knew a junk drawer could be a mini psychological study? Go with me on this one. Open your junk drawer (you know you have one, or two). Take a close look. What does it say about you?
Shuffling through one’s junk drawer may make it apparent that an occasional reorganization is in order. This can be a daunting experience if what has been kept does not bring joy. If your keepsake clutter is inconducive to your hopeful future, it has no place in your drawer. If the memento represents doubt, fear, or strife… remove it. If the bobble triggers unhappiness…take it out. If the scrap scratches at the surface of a longtime grudge…put it with the bobble and the memento and get rid of it. Remove the “junk” from your junk drawer…and while you are at it, do the same with your life.
Keep what’s good. Expunge what’s bad. Make it a priority to discern the difference. One tidbit and one decision at a time.