I’ve always pointed fingers at other people’s clutter, in denial about the mess lurking in the corners of my own home. After all, it’s easier to get rid of other people’s junk.

An abundance of stuff fills my cupboards and closet shelves, but the items all have sentimental value, so I’ve never considered it clutter, much less junk.

My son’s room is a perfect example of my clutter problem, with toys, such as his dinosaur and bug collections, he hasn’t played with in about eight years and board books from infancy. In my closet there were old art projects that were going to be finished one day — all just remnants and puzzle pieces of the past.

Mark Brunetz, co-author of "Take the U Out of Clutter: The Last Clutter Book You’ll Ever Need" would describe these items as "unfinished stories."

He says psychological barriers are the main reason people hang onto things and avoid successful de-cluttering. "The primary reason people fail to get organized is that the items that people hold onto have present meaning anchored in an incomplete past," he explains. "Without addressing the central issue, the idea of parting with these items feels like a loss of a precious memory. Clutter is a physical manifestation of what’s going on inside."

Brunetz gets a firsthand glance at these types of emotional attachments while dealing with his clients and the families featured on Style Network’s "Clean House," where he serves as a designer and host.

By clearing space, we are making room for new memories. Every item in a home has a story that carries emotional and spiritual significance, Brunetz adds. "The more you accumulate clutter in the home, the more you distance yourself from your true self."

The book also demonstrates how to identify and organize the attachment to items and how to distinguish the objects from the memories. "People can get rid of the items in their home while maintaining the memory in the heart," he says.

Brunetz suggests starting small by clearing out one drawer or shelf. "We need to clear space for the next memory, instead of staying trapped in a specific time or place. Stories can be sentimental, sad or nostalgic, and we don’t want to dismiss those stories."

Brunetz compares maintaining clutter to maintaining weight loss. "You don’t just conquer clutter and it’s over. It becomes automatic once skills have been established to deal with it," says Brunetz. "Clutter is a blessing. It’s a catalyst for positive change."

The book’s concept that every item has a story made sense, causing me to realize I was holding onto the past, holding onto those endearing childhood years when my son and I spent countless hours playing together. Now a teenager, he needs his own space, but I realized he also needs me, just not in the same way. And the thought of him busting out the old dinosaurs was not a likely occurrence.

After considering all the options, I packed up all of the old toy collections, including an oversize pirate ship, and shipped them to my 2-year-old nephew. Now he can have years of enjoyment with the toys, creating his own memories that can last a lifetime.

And the best part is that my clutter is gone, at least for now.