Culling or weeding is the act of going through a collection and removing items that are out-of-date, or don't "spark joy", if you use Marie Kondo's criterion. Years before Marie, I learned about Don Aslett. He has several books about de-junking, de-cluttering and avoiding unwanted expansion of a mass of goods such as photos and books. Aslett wrote "Clutter's Last Stand" and other books because of his job, which was cleaning offices. He and his crew often found that cleaning was fairly simple but clearing obstacles in the way of cleaning wasn't.
For older people, the thought of a bereaved relative facing all the stuff stashed in the basement, the attic, the garage and that rental storage unit across town is haunting. Lynn is a librarian and a teacher of librarians so she has experience facing a library full of books. Most libraries have strong space limitations and must keep the collection limited to what will fit conveniently in their footage. She has the patience to look at each photo or piece of clothing and decide whether it is worth keeping.
You may know that Ecclesiastes 12:12 says "Of the making of many books, there is no end." Further, archived emails, saved receipts, pictures of the kids all pile up. Aslett really helped me when he wrote that just because I get rid of the vase Grandma used to own does not mean I didn't love her. I realize that books and vases often serve as reminders. I see that book and I am transported back to the place and the day I bought it. I don't need to open the book or put flowers in the vase.
Several of my friends seem to blanch at the thought of being forgotten. The Disney/Pixar film "Coco" explains that our souls reside in a special place after we die as long as someone alive remembers us. Once all those who knew us forget us or die, we vaporize completely. When I think of such oblivion, I think of all my ancestors I never knew. I never have known them and I can't think about them. But I salute their contribution to my body and my heritage and my life.
Meanwhile, I actually can go through my shirts and my books every once in a while and remove outdated items that I can now see do nothing for me. True, items that have survived the cull repeatedly attain a semi-sacred status but I can still live without them. Maybe, even live better.
