What personal belongings do you hold most dear?

When asked what personal belongings I hold most dear, my mind doesn’t go to price tags or brand names. It goes to memories. To meaning. To the quiet ways love leaves a trace in our lives through things we can hold in our hands.

Tucked away safely in drawers and boxes are pieces of my story—jewelry from my mother that I’ve had since I was nine, a Gucci watch she gave me when I graduated from elementary school, and precious gifts from my husband over the years. I’ve even bought myself pieces to celebrate the milestones I’ve reached on my own—quiet victories that deserved to be marked.

Then there are the cameras. My very first Canon DSLR, the EOS 400D, and later, the EOS 7D. A GoPro gifted by my husband a decade ago. A little Bloggie I bought for myself. And my trusty water camera that I’ve had for years and still works like a charm. Each one holds frozen slices of life—laughter, travels, fleeting moments of joy and meaning. These aren’t just gadgets—they’re time machines. They’ve allowed me to collect and preserve the essence of our lives.

Among the most sacred things I keep are handwritten letters—from my grandmother, my mother, and other loved ones. Their words bring comfort, like hugs from the past. Photographs, too, tell their stories—images of my childhood, snapshots of my daughter growing up, and candid moments with my husband that still make me smile.

Some of the most precious photographs I own are of my grandparents—photos from their younger years, their 50th wedding anniversary, and ones from when they were much older. I also have a photo of my mom when she won her very first singing contest on the radio, and snapshots of her as a professional singer—during her early days in Japan and while performing in a band with my dad. These images are glimpses into their lives before I ever knew them, and I cherish them deeply.

I’ve collected a few handbags over the years, and then there are the clothes. Dresses I wore on special occasions. Expensive jeans I splurged on before becoming a mother—jeans that no longer fit, but that I’ve saved for my daughter. Because one day, she’ll understand who her mother was before the world knew her as “Mama.” She’ll slip into those clothes and, with them, wear pieces of my life and legacy.

Some treasures are more playful: my Hello Kitty and BTS collection, gifts, photos and videos with my dearest friends and family, and rare finds from our travels that instantly take me back to places that shaped us. Every piece has a story, a spark, a reminder of where we’ve been.

Some of these belongings I use often. Others are tucked away, waiting for quiet moments of nostalgia—or one day, to be passed down. I dream of creating a keepsake trunk or memory box for my daughter—complete with photographs, little notes, and the stories behind each item. Because these aren’t just “things.” They’re love made tangible. They’re pieces of me, woven into a gift for her future.

So, what personal belongings do I hold most dear? The ones that hold me—my history, my love, my joy, my resilience. And one day, I hope they’ll hold her too.

How about you? What are the things you’ve kept, and why have they stayed with you, too?