What’s Actually Worth Keeping?

The Stuff We Carry

We all hold onto things—some intentionally, some just because we haven’t gotten around to dealing with them yet.

Physical objects that fill drawers and closets. Memories from decades ago that still make us smile. Dreams we’re actively working on. Relationships that matter. Habits that serve us or drain us. And sometimes just stuff sitting in the corner that we’ll get to… eventually.

There’s no formula for what’s worth keeping and what isn’t. That’s different for everyone. But maybe it’s worth asking: What am I holding onto and why? Will it serve me to get rid of it?

What comes to mind when you think about what you’re holding onto?

Memories That Remind Us We’ve Lived

Some memories are worth keeping because they remind us that life was good once—and could be again.

I think about my twenties, working nightshifts at a computer data center. The place was quiet after everyone else left. Just our small team and some security guys. I’d jump over desks sometimes, just because I could. I was physically capable, proud of it, maybe a bit carefree in ways I’m not anymore.

I wasn’t qualified for that job on paper when I started, but I became good at it. Good enough that when I left to get my helicopter license and came back months later, they offered me my job back. That meant something—being valued, being part of a team that worked well together.

Those memories aren’t just nostalgia. They’re proof that I’ve lived fully. That I’ve been part of something good. That I had dreams and worked toward them. When life feels mundane or like you’re just drifting, having a goal changes everything.

Ten years from now, maybe I’ll have similar memories about farming with the small team I work with now. Being accepted for who you are, working alongside good people—that’s worth holding onto.

What memories remind you that you’ve lived well, even if things are different now?

The Past Shows What’s Possible

Here’s something useful about holding onto certain memories: they remind us what we’ve already done, which means it’s not impossible to do those things again.

I haven’t owned a car in twenty years, but I did in the UK and the US. I haven’t ridden a motorcycle in thirty years, but I owned three of them in my twenties. I had more money back then than I do now.

These aren’t painful memories. They’re evidence. If I’ve had those things before, they’re not out of reach. Maybe I’ll get that motorcycle and explore Japan or the UK on it someday. Maybe not. But the past proves it’s possible.

When you’re living paycheck to paycheck or feeling stuck, it helps to remember times when you weren’t. Times when you had more freedom, more options, more confidence. Not to make you feel bad about now, but to remind you that change has happened before and can happen again.

What have you done in the past that reminds you abundance isn’t impossible?

Practical Things That Just Work

Then there’s the stuff that’s worth keeping simply because it still serves a purpose.

I’ve got an old toolbox that’s traveled with me from the US to the UK to Japan. It’s really old now, but the tools inside still fix things around my apartment a few times a year. Why would I throw it away? It’s useful.

Same with that sweater with holes in it I used to wear to the convenience store in winter. I wouldn’t wear it to the shopping mall, but around the house? It kept me warm. That’s enough reason to keep something.

We don’t need to justify keeping things that genuinely make life easier or more comfortable. The favorite mug you use every morning. The jacket you reach for first. The tool that does exactly what you need it to do.

If it works and you use it, that’s all the reason you need.

What worn-out thing do you keep using because it still does the job?

Dreams We’re Working On

Some things we hold onto because we’re actively building them into something real.

For me, that’s this blog. I enjoy creating something that might resonate with people who want to comment and connect. Maybe it becomes an online community where regular people can hang out and talk about real stuff. I had that years ago as a member of a tech forum, and it was meaningful.

But here’s the honest part: we don’t always know if we’re holding onto the right dreams. Maybe it’s common for someone my age to be so into a hobby while being completely out of touch with whether it matters to anyone else. One person’s passion is another person’s waste of time.

Still, we have to hold onto something. We have to enjoy things. Whether it’s building something online, playing golf, chasing goals, fishing just to throw the fish back—we need things that make us happy and keep us engaged.

Only you know if what you’re holding onto serves you. And maybe that’s enough.

What dream or hobby are you working on that keeps you content with life?

The Stuff We Just Haven’t Dealt With Yet

Then there’s the category nobody talks about: things we’re holding onto simply because we haven’t gotten around to dealing with them.

I still have my ex-wife’s desk and some of her things in my apartment—more than eighteen months after she left Japan. I’m not holding onto them for emotional reasons. They’re just there because it would be a hassle to sell or throw away until I actually move out of this place. Her old room isn’t being used anyway.

Parents probably do this too—keeping their kids’ things when they leave home, partly hoping they might come back, partly just not wanting to deal with disposal yet.

For months this past summer, I stored empty water bottles in my kitchen—big bags of them taking up tons of space. They didn’t bother me much. Then one day, after getting a kind email from a coworker that put me in a good mood, I suddenly felt inspired to throw them all away. Just like that.

Sometimes we’re easy-going enough not to care about stuff cluttering our space. Sometimes we suddenly feel ready to clear it out. Both are fine.

What are you holding onto simply because dealing with it feels like too much effort right now?

Your Turn to Reflect

Here’s what I noticed about finally throwing those water bottles away: it felt like progress. Not just physically clearing space in the kitchen, but mentally clearing space for whatever comes next.

Sometimes letting go of one thing—even something as simple as bags of empty bottles—creates room for change. It’s like giving yourself permission to move forward.

If you’re feeling stuck or down, try throwing something away. Clean one small area of your home and see how you feel afterward. Sometimes creating physical space creates mental space too.

When we travel, it serves us to pack light. Carry what we need, leave the rest behind. Maybe life works the same way—hold onto what actually serves you, let go of what doesn’t, and don’t stress too much about the stuff you just haven’t dealt with yet.

There’s no formula for what’s worth keeping. Nobody can tell you what should matter to you or what you should let go of. That’s entirely your call.

But maybe it’s worth asking yourself: What am I holding onto? Does it serve me? Does it need to? Is there space I could create by letting some things go?

What are you holding onto that still serves you? What have you let go of recently that created space for something better?

Share your thoughts below. I respond to every comment, and your experience often helps others more than mine does.