I inherited over 1000 salt and pepper shakers from my grandmother. I kept my favorites and sold the rest, and it taught me a lesson in letting go.

Courtesy of Trace Salzbrenner

• My whole family contributed to my grandmother's collection of salt and pepper shakers.
• When she had to downsize, she passed it on to me. I was honored, but it was massive.
• It had grown to over 1000 pieces, and I had to learn to let go.

When I was a kid, my grandma loved to tell me about her collection of salt and pepper shakers. She would pull her favorites down from...