The day I threw away something I couldn't abandon for a long time / ずっと棄てられなかったものを棄てた日

（日本語は後半にあります）

【English】

As part of the year-end cleaning process, I threw away most of the contents of the cardboard boxes that had been tucked away in the back of the closet.

Most of the contents were things that I had brought from my previous home...in other words, things that were more than 10 years old. They were things that were difficult to dispose of, rather than things that I treasured and kept.

For example, guest cards received at our wedding, congratulatory message cards and photos of guests at the after-party, message cards received when I changed jobs, contact sheets from the day-care center when my elder son was 0 years old... Every few years, I have been in a cycle of organizing them, putting them in the same box, and putting them away again. This year, I decided to finish it.

As for the wedding, I abandoned everything, leaving only the album and a copy of the marriage certificate. I also threw away my elder son's contact sheets, the artwork book that the day-care center teachers had put together for him, and the collection of letters. I would be lying if I said I had no doubts at all, but I feel so much better now that I have gotten rid of everything.

I am glad that I was able to make the decision this year😊

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【Japanese】

大掃除の流れで、押し入れの奥にしまいこんであった段ボール箱の中身をほとんど棄てました。

中身は前の住まいから持ってきたものがほとんど・・・つまり、10年以上前のものばかりでした。大切にとっておいたというよりは、棄てにくかったものたちです。

結婚式のゲストカード、その二次会でもらったお祝いの寄せ書きやゲストたちのチェキ、転職する際にもらった（これまた）寄せ書き、長男が0歳のころの保育園との連絡帳・・・　数年に一度、整理しては同じ箱に入れてまたしまいこむ、というサイクルを繰り返してきましたが、今年で終わらせることにしました。

結婚式に関しては、アルバムと結婚証明書（人前式でした）、婚姻届のコピーを残して全部棄てました。長男の連絡帳も、保育園の先生たちがまとめてくれた作品集も、寄せ書きも、棄てました。迷いは一切なかったと言ったら噓になりますが、でも、処分したことで気持ちがとてもすっきりしました。

今年中に決断できてよかったです😊