This past year, my mother sorted the belongings of a deceased parent. This past month, my close friend oversaw an estate sale of a family as they transitioned into assisted living. This past week, I helped a family move out of their residence of 45 years. Hours and hours were spent going through boxes and boxes of belongings, room by room. Some things were kept, some things were sold, much was thrown away.
In each case, someone other than the owner of the possessions was doing all the work. Consider the fact that at some point in your life (or in your death) every single item of your belongings will be sorted by another human being.
You can create for yourself a less stressful life today by living a minimalist life and lessen the burden on someone close to you as well. For the sake of your closest friends and family, choose to live a simple, minimalist life.
I’m 23 years old. I personally want to go through life with as few ornaments as possible because I don’t want children and I don’t know if I’ll ever find love and marry.
Well said Jackie
Very simply, that is a strong and sad point. I’ve been there and don’t want to put my children there except for the things that will bring them joy. I’m loving your site and pinning it all over my Pinterest. Thanks.
My dad is decluttering now as my mom’s Parkinson’s has left my parents no choice but to move to a 700 sq ft condo from a 3000 sq ft house. The clutter of 36 years is a huge burden. I can’t help him as only he knows what he wants to keep. I know he is sad with all the memories and wouldn’t do this if given a choice.He keeps wanting me to take the stuff but I refuse. He even told me ” I want to teach you how to collect things”. Horrors! I have a good 15 years before retirement but I am starting now in reducing my stuff and be free from the shackles of consumerism that had me in their clutches the first 30+ years of my life.
I used to refuse to take stuff from my mom, too, for the same reasons. Now when she offers me something I thank her a lot and then decide what to do with it. It is usually put in the trash, sometimes donated, and on rare occasions kept. I only keep items that I will use, not the items that would sit in the basement. I don’t feel guilty because mom has often said in the past that she should give everything away because she had too much stuff. I find a lot of people agree with the concept of living with less but have a tough time practicing it. I have also found it’s a lot easier to reduce my own clutter by reducing someone else’s.