Scraplady

This is my biggest motivation to downsize my collection of stuff. My mother passed away about three years ago and towards the end of her life had become quite a hoarder. None of us, not even Dad, realized how bad it had become. My sister and I have worked together to go through the stuff she had saved. We have spent about four weeks out of every year since her passing, and there is still more.

I really do not want my kids to have to deal with anything like that. I may not be a hoarder, but I am very sentimental. I am slowly learning to let go of "things." I do sort of loosely apply the Marie Kondo idea of asking the question, "Does this inspire joy?". I find it helpful because I'm realizing that a lot of the things I have, I'm really just keeping out of guilt. Either someone gave it to me and I feel bad getting rid of it, or it belonged to DH's Nana and I feel bad getting rid of it, or the biggest one: I spent Money on this and I can't bear to get rid of it without ever even using it.

But lately I've decided if it doesn't make me happy any more, or especially if it does inspire guilt, it's time for it to leave my house. It it is So very freeing to let things go. Most of the stuff gets donated so it can give someone else joy if there's any joy left in it to give! At least my daughters won't be shaking their heads one day and asking why in the world their mother hung onto these things!