" Expect this stage [our storage, hobby, and play areas] of minimizing to stir up emotions and recall memories both sweet and bittersweet. You may encounter old photo albums whose pages you haven't turned in decades, mementos of celebrations long gone by, trophies you formerly sweated to win, personal objects you remember being in the possession of loved ones you've lost, the wedding dress you wore..., the stuffed bunny your daughter fell asleep clutching throughout infancy, and art supplies you once envisioned yourself creating beauty with. The experience at times may warm your heart and at times may fill you with sensations of regret, loss, or failure.
Don't back away from these emotions. Work your way through them. This might be just the opportunity you need to process the past and position yourself better for the future. "

― Joshua Becker , The Minimalist Home: A Room-By-Room Guide to a Decluttered, Refocused Life