Cleaning Out, Passing On

 

There's a popular method of decluttering these days called, "Swedish Death Cleaning."  Weird name but a worthwhile premise.  It's a method of cleaning out unnecessary possesions but it also lightens the burden of your loved ones should something happen to you.

About a year ago, my mother had a plumbing problem and my husband and I had to go down to her basement.  Although my mom's house looks pristine, the basement is her "Monica's Closet."

I went through some things, carried them upstairs to my mom, and offered to get rid of some of the junk.  She refused.  My husband said afterwards, "It will take 15 dumpsters to clean that basement out."   I don't think he was exaggerating.

Ironically my husband is the "saver" in our family.  I do have collections but I periodically  go through and streamline and purge my things.  My huband still had clothes from high school when we got married 30 years ago (he's in his 70s now and I'm not sure he doesn't still have some of those things tucked away).

 So while my husband is in Canada, I started going through more things.  My main focus was paper.  There were boxes of documents we had saved and are of no use now.  I just don't want our kids to have the hassle later.  I've taken 5 trips to the dump to get rid of paper and shredded documents.  IT FEELS GOOD!  

I even went through my patterns (which were here, there, and everywhere) and decided what to keep, donate, and toss.  I have only one more box of embroidery patterns to go through and then that job is done as well.  

I'm not getting rid of everything.  I just decided that one tote box of organized patterns should be enough to last me...forever.  THAT feels really good too!

One of the things that helped encourage me was the upcoming guild sale.  I donated a lot of fabric and patterns and really did a good clear out!

But what really brought all this on was the the weather became cooler.  There is something about the approaching autumn that ignites the desire to clean and declutter.  I hope you are having pretty good weather and feeling up to that too!

Have a safe and happy day!