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Finding Joy
The magic of mementoes, and why we can’t let go of our worn keepsakes
We strive for minimalist lives. But physical anchors to our past matter more than ever.
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Researchers have suggested that this practice of holding onto tokens of loved ones may have begun 2,000 years ago during the Iron Age. These keepsakes matter, especially now.
ST ILLUSTRATION: CEL GULAPA
Slouched into my seat at the back of the bus, I was devastated. I had just noticed that the keychain on my backpack had split, and the two cross-stitched pieces inside were missing. Resignation soon followed as I knew it would be next to impossible to retrace my steps and search for the lost items.
The keychain was, of course, no ordinary keepsake or some tourist trinket from an airport gift shop, but a one-of-a-kind item from my late grandmother.
