Tackling Books : Intro and Children's books

Have you ever contemplated decluttering your treasured book collection?

So, its been hmm.. how many years and how many heavy lifting moves for me now? Ah yes ... one too many! Over 7 moves in total and over a span of 20 yrs. I have held on to books, strained my back, along with my poor husbands back to move these darlings. Why did I feel so attached to these books?

Let's explore that for a minute...

So as I literally take a step back a couple of feet from my bookshelves, I try to look at it objectively as if I was helping a client.. what am I housing? Well for me its children books, lots of them. It's books of interest, books for professional and personal reference, and inspirational or informational books on personal growth (professional, social, emotional and spiritual). For you it might be novels of all types and different genres, ie. literary classics, romance novels, science fiction etc. Whatever it is think about the why? Why is it so hard to let it go?

So for me, starting with the children books... oh what sweet memories I have of the innocent and most peaceful times spent just cozying up together and reading to our little guys. Each one with their childhood favorites.

Aside from prayer with them, reading to them definitely ranks up there as a time of closeness. Which as they get older becomes harder to come by, and appears more fleeting. I loved reading with inflection and different voices at times to accentuate the characters in the stories. It grabbed their attention and I felt them truly get into the stories that I chose for them. Watching their little faces light up with expression was that days gift.

Nostalgia, it's powerful when it grabs a hold of the external. The external that begins to accumulate and for some take over their homes, like children's books or books in general. However, this can apply to ever thing sentimental that you own, can't it? For me, particularly when it comes to children books, that is an area that can harbor feelings of bitter sweet days that have passed or are passing as you watch your little babies grow up. So what can you do with them, you ask?

Well, let's start with eliminating what we can that's easy like: duplicates, torn or ragged books that have seen better days. How about books that your children or you have never even cracked open and don't particularly care to. Then we move on to the more difficult decisions and really focus on the treasures. Those treasures however need a limit, a limit that's a comfortable amount. An amount that will spaciously fit in your designated space and still have room to add to your library as the kids age up. So really try to only keep what you truly treasure. At the end of this you will be so surprised at how much you are left with to donate or toss! If you can't do it alone, ask for help, we all need help with sentimental materials some times! And if this is really difficult for you, reach out to a friend or a professional.

Books can be donated to lots of great places if you are willing to make a little trip. In addition to homeless/women shelters, local businesses like: hair salons, dental, doctors offices will take them to keep in their waiting rooms for example. If convenience is a concern, there are always thrift shops you can drop them all off at like: Good Will, Salvation Army, Savers etc. that are happy to accept them. It's a win win !

Go tackle those children's books ! And apply the same process to your own stash of reading books 👊 You can do it!