I'm not very sentimental but I love living amongst things that hold special meaning. 

There's no right or wrong way to live with items that hold memories and stories. But if you’re asking me, I say the best way to treat sentimental items is to make them part of your daily life. Or at least put them on display where you can admire them and they in turn can regularly spark your joy.

Hiding away objects of sentimental value may extend their shelf life, for sure. But it strikes me as an odd way to cherish something or to honour someone's memory.

I inherited a bowl when we were clearing my parents' home several years ago. It was a gift to my mother from one of her sisters.

Now the bowl is part of my daily life and I use it all the time. I know it would be safer stored away or left on the shelf unused. But then it wouldn't provide the same joy and meaning from using it. 

Anyway, I've already come to terms with knowing things break. Plus, if anything unfortunate should happen to the bowl I now have photos as souvenirs!

Here are a few more inherited items of sentimental value and how I put them to work on the rgular.

Read about how to cherish common household objects here. 

My mother's china tea pot is for more than just serving tea.

I painted these egg cups and gave them to my parents years ago. Now they're mine and do double duty.

Made more than 30 years ago from squares my grandmother knit and my sister crocheted together, today this old blanket provides comfort to feline family members.