r/BreakUps • u/NotATypicalSinn • 4d ago
Do you keep stuff your ex gave/gifted you?
Personally, I do choose to keep them.. Pictures on my phone, childhood pics, diaries, necklaces, old student IDs, everything. I keep every single one I get from them. Not as a form of desperate attachment, but to remind myself and show myself that even if things ended, no matter how hard or sad or bitter it was, I loved them with to the best of my capabilities and with my whole being.
I keep them because it reminds me that love isn't some trap or meaningless thing, no matter how much it breaks me. Because in spite of it all, I loved the only way I knew how, and that the love I gave was as real as I could ever show.
But what about you guys? What do you think?
If you've got any other questions you wanna ask me about why I think this way, feel free to ask too. Don't be shy ^ ^
3
u/External-Project-408 4d ago
I (20M) do the same. I’ve only been in two relationships. One senior year of high school and the other just ended a month ago. Both were good relationships and definitely taught me a lot. Also, I ended on pretty good terms with both.
I do keep many of the things I got from them (letters, toys, art, etc). I don’t feel an attachment to them, more of an appreciation to how fortunate I have been to have them in my life. And to see how much I’ve grown. I always feel bad when I hear people burning or deleting pictures/gifts from past relationships.