I continue my ongoing quest to reduce clutter in my life. The fact that today is my birthday has re-animated my efforts to empty my file cabinet of nonessential items and otherwise, lighten up. Throughout my life I have been collecting interesting things. The most manageable of these them are the printed articles: newspaper clippings (remember them?), announcements, cards, letters, and the like.
Everything must be processed in its proper order. After the many cards, letters, and personal notes I have already scanned, journal articles, and handouts thoughtfully compiled by professors and instructors of yore are first on the list. Papers written over the years for academic courses, with instructors' comments are next.
Newspaper articles are next in line. In reviewing these articles, I noticed that language has changed over the years. Some of the newspaper articles I saved from 30 years ago would not have the same headlines in today's world. Here is an example from the New York Times in 1993: 'Technology Revolution Reaches the Mentally Retarded'.
Even with my papers converted into thin air, I have qualms about destroying the originals. I thought of a way that could enable me to destroy 90% of them while amplifying their importance. I thought about making a collage. I could use some of the headlines and words, and wordings of the past. Perhaps I would include cut-outs of personal letters and other printed matter in my archives. I am going to make a 'Word Box', into which I will place words that are important to me. The trick is to assemble them in a meaningful way.
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