I am truly fulfilled by what I do and love telling people about it. I write and share short weekly articles called “blogs” on the themes of: family treasures, letting go of stuff, sentiment & nostalgia, preserving memories, supporting the moves of our elders, and more. You can receive these blogs weekly by email by signing up at the bottom of the page.
Feedback is aways welcome. Enjoy!
The lazy-hazy-crazy days of summer. Oh Bliss!
Why did I ever think last spring that I would have time this summer to tackle those projects that have been hanging around for ages?
I frequently hear those words from others, and I have been known to say them myself (today!).
What are those projects that are still sitting on shelves?
Read MoreHow do we let go of a beloved treasure from our homes without feeling attachment? How do we let special family items pass out of our hands and into the hands of others without wondering about the item's future?
Last week’s blog post considered a question from a recipient’s point of view. How do I find the balance of saying YES and NO to my parents as they ask me to TAKE items? (See Gratitude: Sometimes We Just Need To Say Yes).
This week’s post is a companion piece. As the giver of an item, how do I truly LET IT GO? Especially those very special items.
Read MoreWhat do I do with those items inscribed or engraved with my name that catch my heart every time I see them?
This question came from readers who are moving or downsizing when they read my post What To Do With Old Awards.
The size of their new home means that these items can no longer be easily displayed. In several cases, these inscribed items were found in basement boxes that had sat unpacked for years. A flood of sentimental memories emerged as each item was uncovered.
Read More"What do I do with old awards, trophies, and plaques?” ask several clients as they downsize their homes.
Physical items received for a sports championship or a prize-winning 4-H heifer or recognition of community or employment service remind us of hard work and accomplishment. Perhaps we also have an award that was presented to a parent or grandparent.
What do we do when we are downsizing and have less space to keep them?
Ask yourself, do I want to display this item and am I inspired when I see it? If the answer is YES, display it where you can appreciate it.
If the response is NO, perhaps it’s time to let it go.
Here are a few options as you consider YES or NO:
Read MoreAre you someone who owns many books and the time has come to rightsize or downsize?
For any of us who are book lovers or whose career has involved collecting books, there comes a time when we know that at least some of them must go. This can be a very challenging task!
For some readers, organization guru Marie Kondo’s question does a book “spark joy” may help you quickly decide to save a favourite children’s book or let go of one that is only partially read or you will never read again.
However, for many of us, we look at our bookcases, and joy abounds on every shelf!
Read MoreAre you looking for a way to make your downsizing or spring decluttering more fun? How about the Five OR 10 Game?
If you are burdened with too many bowls or screwdrivers or garden rakes or ball caps (perish the thought!), here is one way to decrease your numbers.
As your eye wanders over your collection, set yourself a number. Is it five or 10 or 12 (what’s your lucky number?). That number is your limit. Now choose which five or 10 or 12 items to keep.
Read MoreI am rooting around in a closet to find a seasonal jacket, and I cast my eyes on my beloved unworn red shoes!
I love THOSE shoes! I love RED shoes!
I feel strong and positive. I could walk anywhere and face any challenge when I have red shoes on my feet.
I have a hard foot to fit and it took me a very long time to find those red shoes.
I paid a lot for them and expected that they would give me years of service.
I wore them ONCE several years ago. Long enough to mark them up beyond returning.
Long enough to realize that they didn’t fit properly after all.
Read MoreNo matter how much we are able to tap into our compassion (see Mindful Compassion While Seniors Downsize ), there are times when we need to initiate challenging conversations when we are downsizing with our elders.
Their energy is flagging, and so is ours. There's a time limit on this project as their move is happening next week. It feels as though there are too many decisions to make, and too much stuff lined up for the moving truck.
If you have been firm about not taking on your parents’ stuff (see Your Downsizing Cannot Be My Upsizing), this may be the time to give a little.
Read MoreYOUR DOWNSIZING CANNOT BE MY UPSIZING
I love this pithy line shared by an adult daughter who is helping her mother downsize. After selecting what she would take to her new smaller home, the older woman suggested that her daughter could take much of what was left. Her daughter’s response was “Mom, your downsizing cannot be my upsizing.”
In Mindful Compassion While Seniors Downsize, I shared some reasons why seniors struggle with downsizing. For many of these generous folk, an easy solution would be for their adult children to take everything that the senior no longer needs and incorporate the items into their own homes.
How many of us have been asked to do just that? And can’t or choose not to.
Read MoreHow do you keep on downsizing and not get stuck with YOUR OWN sentimental items such as photos, letters, greeting cards, and mementos? This question came from a client whom I will call Laurie who has read Downsizing INHERITED Sentimental Objects.
Laurie is rightsizing and organizing her own home, and at the same time is helping her parents downsize to a smaller home.
Read MoreMarie Kondo. Does that name ring a bell?
You may have heard Kondo's name on a talk-show, watched her on Netflix or YouTube, read about her on Facebook, or spotted The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up in your favourite bookstore or library.
Marie Kondo is a Japanese home organizing sensation whose minimalist methods of downsizing are front and centre in various media.
Kondo asks “Does it spark JOY?” as she encourages everyone to touch each item in their home.
How do you let go of inherited sentimental objects when there are just too many tools, teacups, kitchen utensils, ornaments, or (add your category)?
This question came from a client whom I will call Dave who had inherited 20 old tools from his father. He had vivid memories of his Dad using each of the tools around the farm or house. Every time that Dave saw the tools, he remembered his Dad with great affection. However, he was moving to a smaller space and had his own more up-to-date tools of which he needed very few. HIs Dad's beloved old tools had become a burden, yet he couldn’t bear to put the tools in a garage sale as he felt like he was ‘selling’ his father.
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