Converting the overwhelming boxes and piles of memories into a portable personal museum that will be a joy to own and easy to pass on for generations, PLUS Music & soccer that both brought me to tears
I am looking forward to your ebook. I am currently the keeper of family pictures for my father’s family and am still dealing with the accumulation of my in-laws.
Way better seeing a happy face taking your art. I had 2 sales before moving. Though some things were hard to part with, some things I was so happy to be rid of. :) I had my dad's old train set, that he played with as a kid and us kids played with, always had it running around the Christmas tree, and reluctantly boxed it up a couple years ago and took to a niece and her family in Phx - they couldn't care less. Sigh
I've recently downsized but not to this extent. My situation was painful enough, yours sounds like a nightmare that you have admirably handled. I don't have kids but have certainly noticed that kids these days are NOT nostalgic. It makes me sad that some family things I've moved repeatedly and am attached to will end up at a thrift store after I'm gone. So trying to enjoy what possessions I have left, making them feel loved until I'm gone 😄
That's a rough situation. No nieces or nephews either? Regarding my artwork that I was so proud of, my kids and other family members took what they wanted, but there was quite a bit left. At first I was sad that there was no one to give it to. I didn't want it to just go to a thrift store. But when we had our estate sale, I was able to watch each piece go to a good home. I would watch to see what caught someone's eye, then I would approach them and talk about it and what it meant to me. If they were still interested, but hesitant to put out the money, I invariably drop the price down to a ridiculous low level so they would take it. I decided I would rather have someone take it home for super cheap, knowing they loved it, than leave it on the wall and risk me having to donate it to a stranger I never saw. It really did help. I felt good about watching it go. Don't know if that might be what you face someday--watching your things go out the door at a sale.
Waiting for next week's continuation of decluttering. That said, it seems I'm always most motivated to clear out when I'm not home (perhaps because I'm somewhere with sun!).
Sunshine and wide-open blue sky is kind of the antithesis of clutter and gloom. I can see why it tends to motivate you!
I have always found myself most motivated to clear things out right after I return from traveling. My family used to live on the road, in several different hotels each week, driving all over the nation for four months at a time. We each brought one carry-on size suitcase, plus we had a laundry basket in the back of the car to hold all the shoes/boots for all four of us. This, plus a shared family toiletries bag, was enough to cover all four seasons of weather, with nicer work clothes plus casual clothes. We got so used to living this way and being fine with it. Each time we would return home, we would look around at all the stuff we hadn't needed and wonder why we even own it.
I am looking forward to your ebook. I am currently the keeper of family pictures for my father’s family and am still dealing with the accumulation of my in-laws.
Way better seeing a happy face taking your art. I had 2 sales before moving. Though some things were hard to part with, some things I was so happy to be rid of. :) I had my dad's old train set, that he played with as a kid and us kids played with, always had it running around the Christmas tree, and reluctantly boxed it up a couple years ago and took to a niece and her family in Phx - they couldn't care less. Sigh
I've recently downsized but not to this extent. My situation was painful enough, yours sounds like a nightmare that you have admirably handled. I don't have kids but have certainly noticed that kids these days are NOT nostalgic. It makes me sad that some family things I've moved repeatedly and am attached to will end up at a thrift store after I'm gone. So trying to enjoy what possessions I have left, making them feel loved until I'm gone 😄
That's a rough situation. No nieces or nephews either? Regarding my artwork that I was so proud of, my kids and other family members took what they wanted, but there was quite a bit left. At first I was sad that there was no one to give it to. I didn't want it to just go to a thrift store. But when we had our estate sale, I was able to watch each piece go to a good home. I would watch to see what caught someone's eye, then I would approach them and talk about it and what it meant to me. If they were still interested, but hesitant to put out the money, I invariably drop the price down to a ridiculous low level so they would take it. I decided I would rather have someone take it home for super cheap, knowing they loved it, than leave it on the wall and risk me having to donate it to a stranger I never saw. It really did help. I felt good about watching it go. Don't know if that might be what you face someday--watching your things go out the door at a sale.
Waiting for next week's continuation of decluttering. That said, it seems I'm always most motivated to clear out when I'm not home (perhaps because I'm somewhere with sun!).
Sunshine and wide-open blue sky is kind of the antithesis of clutter and gloom. I can see why it tends to motivate you!
I have always found myself most motivated to clear things out right after I return from traveling. My family used to live on the road, in several different hotels each week, driving all over the nation for four months at a time. We each brought one carry-on size suitcase, plus we had a laundry basket in the back of the car to hold all the shoes/boots for all four of us. This, plus a shared family toiletries bag, was enough to cover all four seasons of weather, with nicer work clothes plus casual clothes. We got so used to living this way and being fine with it. Each time we would return home, we would look around at all the stuff we hadn't needed and wonder why we even own it.