Knick-Knacks from the past

Ever since I was little I have always been a pack rat. Stuffing things here and there in the hopes that I will either use it later on or put it in a scrapbook someday. I have separate containers and drawers for the different scraps, cards, old jewelry, and just plain junk that I feel some sort of connection too. You see, that is why I keep this "stuff" because even though it may be broken or old it reminds me of different times, or of a different age, and I just feel like saving it or fixing it and making it better than it was. Opening those drawers and boxes full of my treasures gives me such a feeling of nostalgia. Your past is such a big part of you so why not save things that meant something to you, even if it is just for the occasional trip down memory lane. So, would you like to know what sort of things I have kept over the years? Well, some may say that it is junk but I consider most every piece an important part of my past and they all have some sort of sentimental value.

            I have one box filled with cards I received at different holidays from Halloween, to Easter, to Christmas. I’ve been collecting them probably since I was 10 years old. Some, I kept because the card itself was pretty or had a cool design on the front. Others I chose to keep because the notes inside were very kind and meant a lot to me. I've kept a lot of cards from significant events, holiday, and graduation, for example; the one from my grandma where she wrote such lovely, heart-felt things about my graduating and I don't want to ever forget what she thought and felt during that time. So, I kept it so I can always look back on it.
In the same box I have kept things such as jewelry pieces, necklaces and bracelets from when I was young that I cant part with just yet. They remind me of my childhood and of the people that gave them to me, like my great-grandmother. I also have name-tags from places I’ve worked/volunteered at, like summer camps and church programs. I've kept my name-tags because they remind me of the person I was becoming at such a young age. Already volunteering for things that I thought made a difference in young kids lives. I've kept little notes and my name-tag from summer camp because that camp made me who I am today in a lot of ways. It was Living Waters Bible Camp and I went there for seven years, one of which I was on staff. The people there taught me so much about how to be a good, positive, moral human being and I love them all for passing on their morals and life experiences on to me. The places I’ve worked, cards from certain holidays and event, and jewelry I used to love all bring back wonderful memories that I want to hold onto as long as possible. It helps me to not forget who I am as a person and where I have come from. That is a big part of why I decide to keep certain knick-knacks that remind me of the past.