“Are you going to throw all my stuff away?”
“Are you going to make me throw all my stuff away?”
People want to know. You want to know.
I’ve recently read the book “Don’t Toss My Memories in the Trash” by Vicki Dellaquila. Such a helpful book that provides insight for a ‘step-by-step guide to helping seniors downsize, organize, and move.’
Biggest takeaway - Do it now while you can and not have it done for you because you can’t.
This seemed to me the best advice. Wouldn’t you rather be in control of the downsizing project? Wouldn’t you want to be able make your own decisions of what you will keep and what you will pass on and to whom? And on your timeline/schedule? Wouldn’t you want to go through your own very personal items?
Love letters. Diary. Yearbooks. School letter jackets. Pictures. Family heirlooms. Collections. Memorabilia. Paperwork.
Bedroom. Kitchen. Bathroom. Attic. Basement. Garage. Living Room. Den. Library.
All your belongings.
They make up who you are, who you were, where you came from, where you’re going. And when you are downsizing, you cannot take it all with you. There’s that pesky space issue to contend with. You know the saying about not being able to put 10 pounds of stuff in a 5 pound bag. That translates to taking the most important with you. The best of the best. The things you need to use to start your new chapter in life along with the creme de la creme of memories that space allows.
And it’s all so emotional.
Memories are filled with so many emotions that run the spectrum from sad and depressing to joy and elation and everything in between. For the items you will keep and take with you, I would encourage you to keep those that are reminiscent of the happiest times you want to remember, the things that represent who you are, and those that mean the most to you. And what qualifies is different for everyone.
Going back to the issue of space. When downsizing, you know you cannot take everything with you from the family home that you’ve lived life in for decades to the one bedroom place that is a fraction of the square footage. I was just recently thinking of what I would take when it comes time for me to do that. What will I keep? What represents me? What do I not want to let go of? What will I do with all.the.things. that I am not taking with me? Who does all of that go to? At some point, hopefully decades from now, I too will have to address all of this. And, unlike many others who have children and/or family nearby, I will be dealing with this by myself if Mr. Wonderful should go before me.
I will want to be in charge. I will want to be in control of the project. I want to do it on my terms. Do you?
With all of that said, if you’d like to read the book for yourself (there is a lot of helpful information regarding the whole process), here’s the Amazon link:
Are you thinking about downsizing? Do you have to help someone who has to downsize? Remember, it may be easier with a professional organizer to assist. You don’t have to go it alone.