I spent the weekend shredding old love letters. AIBU?

[Boxowine]

Long time lurker. This is my first post. Covid inspired me to de clutter and otherwise organize my house and life. This weekend I attacked one particular closet where I have been storing several boxes of random items including stacks of love letters.

For background, I have had five significant relationships in my life, one being my current husband. The others were twenty five or so years ago (back when people actually wrote to one another). So, I had stacks of letters. I chose to reread them and then shred. Is this heartless?

No. I'm planning on doing the same when I next go up in my attic and declutter. God, I don't want anyone reading the drivel I used to write to my ex as a teenager.

No, good going.

I thought that it was a practical thing to do. And I am the least sentimental person I know. But even so, I was unprepared for the conflicted emotions. It just felt so callous.

Amazed you have a weekends worth of love letters to shred! I think I received one letter from an ex when I was a teenager, I kept it for years

You’re completely reasonable. I burned a bunch last time we moved. They were toe-curlingly embarrassing and involved Pablo Neruda poems.

I still have a small box of the most sentimental love letters from 20-odd years ago, I re-read them occasionally as they remind me of when I was young, desirable and full of hope for the future. I shredded the rest after each breakup. That's a good point though, I'd hate anyone to read them after I've gone though so I will need to shred them eventually!

That’s exactly it, I forgot what it feels like to be so loved and desired. It feels like throwing it away, someone who cared enough to write me two and three pages at a time of declarations of undying love. OH def got some side eye today. He’s shirking and doesn’t even realize it.

Ive had to sort personal possessions of the dead, while dealing with grief. Its really hard and horrible. I'm all in favour of clearing and shredding as much as possible while still alive.