Downsizing

While we were at Brett's this weekend, we talked to him and Karen a lot about downsizing.  Moving is the perfect time to do so, but since they had brought a lot of their possessions with them when the joined households in Columbus, they would have to search through their items now as they unpacked.  I suggested donating or selling some things on Marketplace to make their living space more useable.  I found an article online this week that worded exactly how I felt about decluttering the house and hoped that it would help them on their downsizing journey.  In summary:

1.     Your stuff is not your story.  Do not tie your identity to physical objects.  You are the memory, not         the souvenir that you keep.  Letting go of an object does not erase the history that you made with            it.

2.     Emotional Guilt Keeps You Buried in the Clutter.  This is especially true of inherited items that you         didn't ask for but feel guilty getting rid of.

3.    Decluttering is Not Just About Physical Space; It's About Mental Weight.  Clutter costs you time,            energy and peace of mind.

4.    Sentimentality is Not a Storage Strategy.  Holding on to something solely because it reminds you of        another time is not sentimental, it's impractical especially if those items are in boxes that you never        look through.  

5.    Your Kids Don't Want Your Collections.  Take responsibility of your things now and don't push     t         them off on someone else.                

6.    Decluttering is a Gift to Your Future Self.

7.    Organization Without Elimination is Just Rearranging Clutter.

8.    You Don't Need Permission to Let Go.

I thought these suggestions were perfect for anyone downsizing.  If I could add one thing to the list it would be:

9.    Don't Save Anything Just Because It Might Be Worth Something Someday.  It never is!