You know, there’s this one particular box in my closet—and maybe you have one too! It’s not a fancy box, just a simple storage bin, but it’s packed with the most random assortment of things. Inside, you’ll find a crumpled collection of old concert tickets from years ago, a few broken pens that somehow survived the clear-out, and even a letter I started but never quite sent. On the surface, if I'm being brutally honest, I absolutely don’t need them. They serve no practical purpose, take up space, and really, I probably should just toss them, right? And yet, year after year, I keep them.

So, why do I hold onto these seemingly useless relics? It's simple, really. Because each one of those little items, no matter how insignificant it appears, holds a tiny version of me. They are tangible links to past moments, forgotten feelings, and the person I was then. It’s a beautiful thing, actually, to realize that we are absolutely allowed to be sentimental. It’s a part of what makes us wonderfully human! Clinging to these little pieces of the past doesn’t mean we’re stuck there, unable to move forward. Quite the opposite, actually! It simply means we’re storied. We carry a rich history within us, a collection of experiences and emotions that have shaped who we are today.

And that’s the real kicker, isn't it? Not everything needs to be useful in a practical, day-to-day sense. Some things, some moments, some little keepsakes, just need to be remembered. They're anchors to our personal narrative, reminding us of where we've been and all the amazing life we've lived.