New York Times asks readers for keepsakes kept as reminders of love

The New York Times is asking readers to share small objects they have kept as reminders of love, citing examples such as a folded note in a wallet, a concert ticket or an old key.

The invitation notes that love often shows up in ordinary things—a voicemail message, a grocery list written by someone you do not want to forget—and that these items, while seemingly insignificant, can hold deep personal meaning. The request says submissions may cover romantic, familial, platonic or other forms of love and that such keepsakes may have endured long after a relationship changed or ended.

The paper is seeking the stories behind these objects—why they were kept, what they represented at the time and how their meaning may have changed. If selected, submissions may be included in an article that explores these small, often-overlooked reminders of love; the call appeared Jan. 19, 2026.

Key Topics

Culture, Keepsakes, Folded Note, Concert Ticket, Old Key, Voicemail Message