In the whirlwind of life, we often find ourselves accumulating possessions with sentimental value, hoping to pass them down as cherished heirlooms. But have you ever stopped to ask: do our loved ones truly desire these material remnants of our past? Over 30 years ago my now husband and I picked out our china for our bridal registry. I was so excited imagining all the amazing meals these dishes would hold and I couldn’t wait to host holiday parties so I could use them. There is a silver rim on the plates so they are not dishwasher or microwave safe. Handwashing all the placesettings along with the prep pots and pans quickly changed my mind about using the "fancy" dishes! It has proudly sat in a hutch just waiting for some air time. I brought it out during the pandemic because we had 2 children who graduated. If they were not hand wash only I’d put them in my cupboard for everyday use. But they continue to take up valuable space in my hutch. Why am I keeping my china?
She Said Yes!
Our oldest daughter just got engaged! She is over the moon in love with an amazing young man. I love how they look out for each other and bring out of the best in each other. I can’t help but reminisce about my wedding. I had a huge ball gown with the puffiest sleeves. If a strong breeze came, I might have gone flying! Our wedding cake was so big it had a water feature! My mother in law had purchased a wedding topper years beforehand and the cake was a beautiful gift from my godmother. I asked my daughter if she wanted my wedding dress, cake topper, and china. Her style is very different from mine, so that was a big NO Thank You. It struck me how quickly she declined my offer of these old treasures, and left me contemplating the significance of decluttering to avoid burdening our future generations with unnecessary possessions.
Do I Hang Onto My Treasures?
The realization from my daughter's swift response has prompted me to reflect on the importance of letting go of items that may not hold the same significance for our loved ones. Are we unintentionally cluttering their lives with our own attachments? It's a gentle nudge to reevaluate what truly matters and to consider the legacy we wish to leave behind.
Decluttering for A Better Tomorrow
I started googling to see if anyone else had the experience when I ran across the Swedish Death Cleaning method. When I first read this I thought, 'How morbid, I must know more!' After digging in and reading about the methodology I found that it's not morbid at all. I’ve actually already started this method at the beginning of the year. Once you hit a certain age you are no longer accumulating 'things.' Our families are grown, we have replaced our beginner set of knives, and goodness knows why we still have CD's and VHS tapes. From my understanding, the age that this should start is.... 40. I was shocked at this suggested age! Any time during our lives we can declutter our space and organize it. We don't need to wait until we are of a certain age. Heck, some of us aren't lucky enough to make it to that age. Swedish Death Cleaning is pretty simple, you go through all your belongings and get rid of anything that isn't essential or sentimental. Margareta Magnussen, who wrote the book in 2017 The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning; How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter. In an article from The Spruce, "In practical terms, this means organizing and decluttering your home to reduce the burden of sifting through dozens of objects and trying to decide what’s significant. With Swedish Death Cleaning, you’ll have already done that for them by only holding onto items you've determined to be essential." I’m ready to start asking my children what they want and don’t want. I don’t want to burden them with all of my treasures.
This still leaves my question about the sentimental remnants of weddings. The wedding topper, a symbol of eternal love and union, is a cherished item in many households. However, its relevance and sentimental value may not always transcend generations. The difference between tradition and practicality highlights the delicate balance between preserving memories and avoiding unnecessary accumulation.
Final Thoughts
As we navigate the journey of organizing our homes and lives, the theme of decluttering resonates profoundly – a sentiment that many of us can relate to at various stages. This process of simplifying our surroundings not only declutters physical spaces but also declutters our minds, encouraging mindfulness and deliberate living.
In a world overflowing with excess, the art of decluttering paves the way for a more purposeful existence. It is about surrounding ourselves with items that serve us in the present rather than holding onto relics of the past that may not align with our needs or those of our descendants. In a way, decluttering becomes a poignant act of self-discovery and a gateway to embracing a lighter, more liberated lifestyle.
Declutter your life, declutter your soul. It's time to create a legacy of memories, not of clutter.
Thank you for hanging with me,
Tina
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