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As I have gotten older, I have also become more sentimental. I have learned the hard way many times that getting to attached to people is bad because relationships don't last forever. Whoever is more emotionally invested gets hurt more.
As in keeping mementos? No; I'm a tosser. I don't hang onto stuff. But people and relationships are even more precious to me as I age. I very much enjoy reminiscing with those I love.
I used to be really sentimental taking photos & scrapbooking. Looking back at some of the photos, I ask myself, who are these people? Or the ones I thought I was close to only bring me painful feelings.
So now, I learned not to get overly attached to people.
It definitely hurts to be burned by someone close. Being too aloof is unhealthy. I guess it's a double-edged sword.
Yes, I just threw out a box of stuff my parents had kept since my school years.
Man, were people ugly in my high school. And, sadly, looking at my old homework, report cards and art projects I was a pretty stupid kid with little innate talent.
My kids are now grown and the 19 year old is the only one left at home.
So, as I embark on my retirement and through my 60s I find I look at them now and remember moments of their lives, their births, the first time I held them, Scouts or ballet, teaching them to ride bikes and then drive. Stuff like that.
I find myself missing those things now when at the time I couldn't wait for them to be over.
Each one has made me a proud parent in their own ways.
To answer the OP's question, yes. I am less sentimental about stuff, but more sentimental about memories of my kids and early marriage. Those memories of earlier days are very close to my heart.
But what I truly hate is being manipulated in movies or sermons or speeches into cheap sentimentality! I hate it. Even if it brings tears to my eyes, I hate it, because I don't want to waste emotion on maudlin, trite stuff. And I don't spend very much time online looking at cute animals or babies and their antics either.
I have a really soft spot for young children. But I'd rather see them as they really are, than as tools of some stupid made up story.
Wow I'm harsh here. I don't expect most of you to agree with me.
I have become less sentimental. I choose not to hang onto a lot of personal attachments. I too have some painful memories and although I never got into scrapbooking, I do come across pictures of relatives and friends...ones who have passed away and ones who treated me poorly. So I have become what I call more cynical over the years.
Once we get hurt over and over it is easy to try and protect ourselves from experiencing further pain. I am working through that now and am learning to trust and be open with others again. I just am careful not to trust everyone like I once did in my younger, more naive days.
Forgiveness is important too. I realize I did my own share of hurting others. I have accepted responsibility, made amends where possible and I do try harder to do unto others. I too live in the present more than ever, however, I realize I can do that without shutting others out.
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