REFLECTIONS : Time to Let Go ?
Her living room was adorned with a cabinet full of glass figurines dancing in full regalia . A friend instead had a collection of “ Precious Moments ,” depictions of children with innocent facial expressions . Doubtless these displays were not only for show ; each item had been a gift or had been collected with a certain desire or emotion attached to it .
A college ring , a crucifix from Jerusalem , a Mikimoto pearl necklace from Japan , a colorful beach painting from a honeymoon place in the Caribbean – whether cheap or expensive , what matters are the precious memories attached to each one .
As the years pass , one latches on to these memories of days gone by . They may fade , but do they ever go away ? These lead us to ask , “ What happens to the homes and material things accumulated through a lifetime ? Devoid of memories , are they worthy to others ?”
Thus , people as they grow older have to make decisions . Many
by TERESITA BACANI-OROPILLA , MD no longer are able to enjoy their possessions nor take care of them . If they were once married and lost their spouse , shared joys are lost . Lifestyles have changed . Modernization has taken over . What once was new and exciting is now old stuff .
Children have left the home and started their own collection of what will be their memories .
When does one let go ? Now ? Leave it for the heirs to do it ? At what emotional and monetary cost ? Will it cause dissension and open emotional wounds , or will it bring them closer together as they contemplate the future and put closure to the past ?
Really , when is the time to let go ?! Dr . Bacani-Oropilla is a retired pediatrician and psychiatrist .
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