Comments on: Make it easy for loved ones http://unclutterer.com/2007/10/19/make-it-easy-for-loved-ones/ Daily tips on how to organize your home and office. Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:44:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Jen http://unclutterer.com/2007/10/19/make-it-easy-for-loved-ones/comment-page-1/#comment-21301 Jen Tue, 21 Oct 2008 03:15:55 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/2007/10/19/make-it-easy-for-loved-ones/#comment-21301 Sarah, I'm very sorry to hear of the loss of your dog. We also went through that with one of our dogs years ago and it still hurts to think about it. What a beautiful way to remember your beloved pet. Sarah,
I’m very sorry to hear of the loss of your dog. We also went through that with one of our dogs years ago and it still hurts to think about it. What a beautiful way to remember your beloved pet.

]]> By: Sarah http://unclutterer.com/2007/10/19/make-it-easy-for-loved-ones/comment-page-1/#comment-8484 Sarah Wed, 27 Feb 2008 14:10:21 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/2007/10/19/make-it-easy-for-loved-ones/#comment-8484 Thank you for this series. Helping my parents clean out my grandparents' house has inspired me to choose what is truly important in my home. It's not just people clutter, either. The guilt associated with throwing away the collar, bedding, food dish for a beloved family pet can be overwhelming. It's been a year since our dog was hit by a car. Her things have been stored in a bag, but the time has come to throw them away. We've decided a better way to remember her is with a patch of daisies in the garden. Her name was Daisy. We're replacing emotional clutter with the beauty of memories. Thank you for this series. Helping my parents clean out my grandparents’ house has inspired me to choose what is truly important in my home.

It’s not just people clutter, either. The guilt associated with throwing away the collar, bedding, food dish for a beloved family pet can be overwhelming. It’s been a year since our dog was hit by a car.

Her things have been stored in a bag, but the time has come to throw them away. We’ve decided a better way to remember her is with a patch of daisies in the garden. Her name was Daisy. We’re replacing emotional clutter with the beauty of memories.

]]> By: kerr-writer http://unclutterer.com/2007/10/19/make-it-easy-for-loved-ones/comment-page-1/#comment-5522 kerr-writer Mon, 26 Nov 2007 22:10:06 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/2007/10/19/make-it-easy-for-loved-ones/#comment-5522 My mother in law refuses to use some items because they are too nice, including a cutting board we gave her last year for Christmas. I told her this week, you'd better start using it because when you pass away, we will definitely put it to use. :) I think she may have been offended but why "save" things when this is the only life you've got in which to use them? My mother in law refuses to use some items because they are too nice, including a cutting board we gave her last year for Christmas. I told her this week, you’d better start using it because when you pass away, we will definitely put it to use. :) I think she may have been offended but why “save” things when this is the only life you’ve got in which to use them?

]]> By: Andamom http://unclutterer.com/2007/10/19/make-it-easy-for-loved-ones/comment-page-1/#comment-4230 Andamom Fri, 19 Oct 2007 18:29:28 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/2007/10/19/make-it-easy-for-loved-ones/#comment-4230 That's quite lovely. My mother-in-law looked at me frankly recently and said 'I know you'll do what you want with my stuff when I am gone, but for now, I like it.' Yeah - I think that pretty much sums it up for me -- I am definitely not going to retain the junk. That’s quite lovely. My mother-in-law looked at me frankly recently and said ‘I know you’ll do what you want with my stuff when I am gone, but for now, I like it.’ Yeah - I think that pretty much sums it up for me — I am definitely not going to retain the junk.

]]> By: Karen http://unclutterer.com/2007/10/19/make-it-easy-for-loved-ones/comment-page-1/#comment-4228 Karen Fri, 19 Oct 2007 17:25:07 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/2007/10/19/make-it-easy-for-loved-ones/#comment-4228 My mom is the opposite. She's a packrat (as am I) and she is very worried that we'll throw away or give away something she's collected that's valuable. Of course, that doesn't mean that she'll sort the stuff out now, or make any record of what is "valuable." "Make sure you hire an appraiser before you throw anything away." I look at her basement packed floor-to-ceiling with "treasures" and hope she outlives me! My mom is the opposite. She’s a packrat (as am I) and she is very worried that we’ll throw away or give away something she’s collected that’s valuable. Of course, that doesn’t mean that she’ll sort the stuff out now, or make any record of what is “valuable.” “Make sure you hire an appraiser before you throw anything away.” I look at her basement packed floor-to-ceiling with “treasures” and hope she outlives me!

]]> By: Aimee http://unclutterer.com/2007/10/19/make-it-easy-for-loved-ones/comment-page-1/#comment-4226 Aimee Fri, 19 Oct 2007 16:50:46 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/2007/10/19/make-it-easy-for-loved-ones/#comment-4226 Funny that you posted this now. My family and I have just been trying to get wills in order because of changes that need to be made. It's funny how important stuff is to some, and not to others. Personally, I want to leave behind only really big stuff, hopefully nothing that is clutter, but things that will either be useful to the people left behind, or that can make them some good money at a yard sale. That's why I love to spend my money on memory making instead of stuff buying. No one has to fight over memories, but they sure do fight over stuff when people die (sad really). Funny that you posted this now. My family and I have just been trying to get wills in order because of changes that need to be made. It’s funny how important stuff is to some, and not to others. Personally, I want to leave behind only really big stuff, hopefully nothing that is clutter, but things that will either be useful to the people left behind, or that can make them some good money at a yard sale.

That’s why I love to spend my money on memory making instead of stuff buying. No one has to fight over memories, but they sure do fight over stuff when people die (sad really).

]]> By: Debbie M http://unclutterer.com/2007/10/19/make-it-easy-for-loved-ones/comment-page-1/#comment-4225 Debbie M Fri, 19 Oct 2007 16:38:36 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/2007/10/19/make-it-easy-for-loved-ones/#comment-4225 My mother said, "If you spend a lot of money on my funeral, I will come back to haunt you." That will be an excellent defense against any unscrupulous funeral directors trying to imply that the amount we're spending equates to how much we love her or that she would want us to spend more. My mother said, “If you spend a lot of money on my funeral, I will come back to haunt you.” That will be an excellent defense against any unscrupulous funeral directors trying to imply that the amount we’re spending equates to how much we love her or that she would want us to spend more.

]]> By: Karen (Pediascribe) http://unclutterer.com/2007/10/19/make-it-easy-for-loved-ones/comment-page-1/#comment-4224 Karen (Pediascribe) Fri, 19 Oct 2007 16:36:40 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/2007/10/19/make-it-easy-for-loved-ones/#comment-4224 My brother and I both struggle with pack rat behavior. I'm getting better at letting it go, but my brother saves everything. It's really starting to eat away at him. Recently I told him, "Listen, if there is anything that i *ever* gave you that you don't absolutely love or use, PLEASE feel free to get rid of it!!!" His jaw dropped, he hugged me, and said a sincere, "Thank you!" :) My brother and I both struggle with pack rat behavior. I’m getting better at letting it go, but my brother saves everything. It’s really starting to eat away at him. Recently I told him, “Listen, if there is anything that i *ever* gave you that you don’t absolutely love or use, PLEASE feel free to get rid of it!!!” His jaw dropped, he hugged me, and said a sincere, “Thank you!” :)

]]> By: Tara http://unclutterer.com/2007/10/19/make-it-easy-for-loved-ones/comment-page-1/#comment-4219 Tara Fri, 19 Oct 2007 13:18:51 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/2007/10/19/make-it-easy-for-loved-ones/#comment-4219 My Grandmother basically gave away most of her things before she passed on. In her will, she had listed who was to get what in great detail. Her first step was when she moved from her house to an apartment. She saw that as the perfect opportunity to pass things on. Personally, that's when I received an antique dresser. A few years after this, she had to move again from her apartment to a nursing home. That was truly when the few remaining items were distributed. This time I recieved her box of photo albums. When she died last summer, all that the family had to deal with was one closet and one dresser full of belongings. I'll offer a precurser. Ten years before she died, she was diagnosed with colon cancer. The prognosis wasn't good. The doctors didn't even want to TRY any form of treatment. I distinctly remember her telling the doctor to do whatever it takes 'cause she wasn't done yet - at 75! Obviously, she recovered and with a special gift. A gift where things just didn't matter that much anymore. If you admired something of hers or she know you did, in a blink it was in your car to take home. My Grandmother basically gave away most of her things before she passed on. In her will, she had listed who was to get what in great detail. Her first step was when she moved from her house to an apartment. She saw that as the perfect opportunity to pass things on. Personally, that’s when I received an antique dresser. A few years after this, she had to move again from her apartment to a nursing home. That was truly when the few remaining items were distributed. This time I recieved her box of photo albums. When she died last summer, all that the family had to deal with was one closet and one dresser full of belongings.

I’ll offer a precurser. Ten years before she died, she was diagnosed with colon cancer. The prognosis wasn’t good. The doctors didn’t even want to TRY any form of treatment. I distinctly remember her telling the doctor to do whatever it takes ’cause she wasn’t done yet - at 75! Obviously, she recovered and with a special gift. A gift where things just didn’t matter that much anymore. If you admired something of hers or she know you did, in a blink it was in your car to take home.

]]> By: beth http://unclutterer.com/2007/10/19/make-it-easy-for-loved-ones/comment-page-1/#comment-4218 beth Fri, 19 Oct 2007 13:09:59 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/2007/10/19/make-it-easy-for-loved-ones/#comment-4218 The summer preceding my Mother's death (in the fall) she reorganized all the family photos. Before that our photos were scattered all over the house. I can't begin to explain how comforting it was to be able to flip through those albums. Additionally, we needed photos for her memorial service and because of her organization we had an easy time choosing them. The summer preceding my Mother’s death (in the fall) she reorganized all the family photos. Before that our photos were scattered all over the house.

I can’t begin to explain how comforting it was to be able to flip through those albums. Additionally, we needed photos for her memorial service and because of her organization we had an easy time choosing them.

]]> By: Zee http://unclutterer.com/2007/10/19/make-it-easy-for-loved-ones/comment-page-1/#comment-4216 Zee Fri, 19 Oct 2007 12:09:40 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/2007/10/19/make-it-easy-for-loved-ones/#comment-4216 That is a lovely little little story Jerry, thanks for sharing. That is a lovely little little story Jerry, thanks for sharing.

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