Are you a sentimental person? Many people will answer “No” because, in our society, sentimentality is viewed by many as a weakness. Before you answer that question, stop a second, read, and give thought to the following quote:
“Feeling sentimental can give you a sense of belonging and make you feel a strong connection to people, a place, or an experience. This is something we all feel from time to time! Our lives are made up of so many moments, and cherishing those moments can be a really positive thing!”
Now, before you answer my first question, let me ask you to consider the following questions: Do you still have that jewelry passed down to you by your mother or grandmother, what about the baby clothing worn by your now teen-age daughter or son, or do you keep picture books of family vacations? Answering these questions, and so many others might be your clue as to your level of sentimentality. Personally, I believe that as we get older, we become more sentimental; we reminisce about events past, and people now gone who touched or impacted our lives. Many of us attach feelings to objects such as those mentioned above because they remind us of moments and people that we truly cherish.
This whole topic of sentimentality came to mind this week as Cathy and I watched a work crew dismantle our 38-year-old outdoor deck. As we watched the workers, it occurred to us that 38 years ago our deck was built by my father, my brother-in-law, and Cathy’s father. A lot of TLC went into building it, and with my father and her father now gone, there was a degree of sadness in watching it being torn down. While there were a number of reasons why we made the decision to replace it, we felt somehow as if we were again saying goodbye to our fathers.
I realize that what I just shared may not make sense to you, but stop a minute and ask yourself if you can relate to my story. While I know that many of you may scoff at the idea that being sentimental is a positive emotion, I truly believe, that cherishing a moment, a person, or a place can be a positive experience in our lives. Our deck may have only been a wooden structure, but as we watched it being taken down, we had some beautiful memories of our fathers and how they worked together to create a structure that has served us well over the last 38 years. Honestly, tell me that you wouldn’t mind having an experience as beautiful as ours.