I would admit now, that I hold on to items in my home. No, I’m not a hoarder. But you know sentimental things like, onesies the girls wore that carry a personal story behind it. Or specific toys that they would play with. I take things like this very personally. Two weeks ago, I did my first donation at Goodwill.
Backstory: I cleaned out my closet and I had a bag of my clothes and some baby clothes too. But I also had the car sear that both Arya and Averie used when they were babies. I remember vividly, both car rides home from the hospital when each of the girls were born.
Fast forward now, these items had been in my car for a while, never having the guts to donate it. Until I was watch YouTube Blogger, Brianna K (if you don’t follow this mommy, you should.) and on this specific video she was donating two car rides full of items and said how good it felt to donate. Well that same day I said, “It is time.”
As I left work during my lunch break to Goodwill it began to rain badly. I hesitated and told myself, “Maybe, this is a sign not to go?” but then I changed my mind and went.
I pulled up on the side, the doors opened and I was greeted by an associate whom I gave the bag of clothes to. Then I uttered, “Do you accept car seats?” I assumed they didn’t due to liability reasons. And he said, “yes.” As I was handing it over, he stated “Oh no, I think our system is down.” I immediately thought it was another sign in my mind I said, “God is that you? But why would I need the car seat if the girls out grew it, right?”
I told him, “Sir, I honestly do not know how this works. It is my first time.” He handed me a paper document to fill out, which to my surprise it was a receipt that I can now claim as a charitable deduction on my federal tax return. When we were done, I walked towards the car and I sat.
An overwhelming feeling came over me as I starred at the rainy window and began to cry. You may tell me, “Ady, but why are you crying?” I know, yes it’s just material things that I am crying about but now I’ve learned something that I never knew before.
I hold onto memories. Good memories. Now giving these items away feels like the girls are growing up. Even little Arya would crawl into the car seat now and watch TV.
As sad as it sounds to me to be giving something sentimental away, it brought me peace to know that possibly another family would need it more than me. With that said, I turned on the car, wipes my tears and the car windshield. I said a “Thank you” like Marie Kondo and drove away.
I now know something I never knew before, that I collect memories but it’s ok to donate those material items on your own time.
-The Mominista
the mominista 