What makes a possession 'sentimental'?

If had to quickly grab a handful of items from your room...What would you grab?

Recently, I have been called a 'sentimental person'. I have never had that label for myself, but as I look around my room, the things stuck on the walls, the photos in the frames and the few items I have on my non-cluttered desk, I have realised that maybe I am? 

Then it got me questioning, what makes an item sentimental? Is it who gave it to me? How it came into being in my possession? No. It's what I connect it too. If I had to leave my room in a rush, I would grab items like my Mac Laptop and Phone obviously, the items that never really ever leave my side. However, what items would I really not want to lose?

Family Photo Albums - 'We didn't realise we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun' (Winnie The Pooh, of course). The hours I have spent putting together cherished family memories is a time I do not want back, it was time well spent. One of my favourite and most comforting things to do is too look through and arrange happy family memories. In 2017, once I left for university, I started to put together an album titled 'Asher's favourite photo's ever' and in that book, is all the photos I deem the 'chosen' photos. And they aren't just of my family. My best friends are in their too. If I was leaving in a rush and would never return back to my room, I would definitely grab that album.

My polaroids - Using my polaroid camera to capture memories is one of my favourite mediums. In the photo above, there is one Polaroid of my beloved dogs. That was taken a few years ago now and it has been displayed in every room I have lived in and it will be from now one.

My signed copy of Autumn by Ali Smith -  As for something a little more shallow, my signed book. I loved this book when I first read it and I was over the moon when I found a signed copy for only £3. The idea of Ali Smith actually signing her name in the front of this book makes me super happy and I thought that it deserved a place in my 'prized possesions' list.

My Polaroid camera - This is how I know that a possession isn't always important to you because of who it's from. This camera was a gift from someone who is no longer in my life but it's still such a massive part of my life. I take this camera with me nearly everywhere and I love it. 

Keys - You may be thinking, why keys? Anyone would, out of pure instinct, grab their house keys in a rush. But, although the keys are pictured, it's not actually the keys I would grab. You see that little Dinasour key ring? That's why I would grab my keys. That key ring is from my late Great Grandmother. And I love to carry a part of her around with me everyday. 

I would love to know what you would grab from your house in a rush, would be a photo album like me? Or is there something else that you would pick up? This list could have gone on forever and ever but I am happy with the items I chose. 

Thank you for reading! 

What I was listening to whilst I wrote this: Fast Car - Tracey Chapman