Yesterday looked like this......
Yesterday was one of those get-it-done kind of days. I worked in the house all day long, and by the end of day, I was tired but so satisfied.
As many of you know, Sam's dad lives in a memory care facility. We decided to have an Estate Sale and we have hired a professional estate sale company.....hand down the best decision ever. They come in, tag everything, set it all up beautifully, handle the three day sale from start to finish, and then split the profits (60 us/40 them.) No hassle, no stress on our part. Just relief of letting go.
Speaking of letting go....I decided it was time to add some of my own "stored treasures" to the pile. For years, I've held on to certain things like extra furniture, dishes I only used for decorations and boxes of seasonal decorations. Boxes of Fall leaves, pumpkins, Christmas wreaths, bunnies, and much more. (I'm guessing I had at least 2 containers full of decorative dishes!!). Ridiculous!!!
Yesterday, I loaded them up and took it all over to the house for the sale. I laughed at myself because I thought I just went through a big purge a few months ago, but somehow the clutter grew again when I wasn't looking. This round felt different though. Maybe it's because I know someone else will love and use these things. Maybe it's because my house and storage spaces are breathing easier today.
I will be back at it again today, rounding up more to send over to the sale. Every piece I let go of makes room...not just in my closets and shelves, but in my mind. And, I will say that the lighter, simpler space feels like a gift to myself.
As I've been going through the pieces my in-laws lovingly collected over the years, I've come to realize how much times and tastes have changed. What once brought great joy to parents and grandparents, whether it was a set of dishes or a cabinet full of glassware, these things are not always what the younger generations are drawn to today.
It's not that they don't appreciate the memories attached, it's simply that their homes, styles and choices look different. Each generation creates its own way of living and they enjoy surrounding themselves with things that reflect their own styles and lives. I do not want my kids having to go through all of my clutter and feeling any sorrow for letting go of all the junk I've collected.
Letting go is hard to do, but unless you want to keep building barns to store the stuff in, you have to make the decision to let go.
Shug...
I only keep what I use, which means I don't have anything I could sell if I wanted to and our furniture is all junk and no one would buy it. I think is good to purge. since I don't do holidays or decorate, or cook and serve meals, or set tables for meals, I don't have any of that. truth is, we were always to poor to buy anything but what we needed and used. I do have 7 devices, ha ha. none of them are apple though
ReplyDeleteestate sales are really common here, so many retirees that moved all their stuff here and no one wants it because of what you just said.
DeleteMy in-laws had some really nice pieces of furniture but she loved the asian look which is not what my kids, no myself are fond of. I hope that the right people will come and want these great pieces.
DeleteI look at the 'stuff' we've accumulated and know that most of it will not be wanted by at least two of my children. I need to start off-loading it . . .
ReplyDeleteSame here and I know my kiddos will be so thankful..
DeleteI’m a minimalist but my husband is not so we always have more than I want around the house. And YES on making a lighter, simpler space - it is a wonderful feeling to accomplish.
ReplyDeleteI have that same Santa - I got it at Hobby Lobby a few years ago. I won’t be getting rid of it just yet because my husband loves it! Anyway it’s an outside decoration. I tend to keep tablecloths- I have one that mom used in the 50’s - very retro. I can’t get rid of that.
We still need to reorganize our garage but it’s been so hot in there. Soon… and Lord willing before Thanksgiving.
Have a wonderful day.
Hi Debby...I already feel that the storage room and the house is so much lighter. My grandson and wife are minimalist and their home always looks so fresh and so clean..
DeleteLetting go can be so difficult, Shug, but you are truly doing your children and grandchildren a huge favor. There were so many things we had to sort through after our folks passed away that either we had no need for or it didn't suit our tastes. I'm not a collector, but there are still some things around here that could use a good purging.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
True. it is difficult to let go, but I know that there is no need to hold on to THINGS. A huge favor for our kids is exactly right Martha...
DeleteOh I had to laugh,) if you want to keep building barns to store the stuff.) ;-) It is so true. And it is also true that it is hard to part with our old treasures.
ReplyDeleteBut it is so true, we cannot keep it all. My husband and I have been going through things this summer too. We plan to put some items on FB Marketplace In hopes to make a little money. ;-)
Crazy isn't it...how we just keep piling stuff up. I'm thinking that if I haven't looked at the things in years, then I don't need them.
DeleteGood idea to do an estate sale, a good way to clean it out! I keep purging too and then I need to do it again!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad we chose the route of hiring the estate team...Nice to know that we do not have to do anything...so worth losing that 40%.
Deleteawesome!! I did learn very quickly that as much as I wanted to hang on to everything that my parents had, that it just was not possible. The estate company will definitely be a life saver. my MIL was a huge collector of so many different things. This company even hauls off the things that just don’t sell. woo hoo!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a huge undertaking! But it is awesome that you found these professionals to do it all! I have never heard of such companies. It is hard enough getting rid of stuff without having to do the entire sale all by yourself. I have so many dozens of loaded keepers in the basement, I need to do this as well. But it is just overwhelming. But I have been donating to Goodwill just a bit at a time. I hope you will be decorating for fall, I look forward to seeing it! I started August 1st and am just now finishing, can you believe it!! It takes me a long time due to my back and knees. But I got it done!
ReplyDeleteWhen we decided to move back to Florida after our son passed away, and since I was in so much grief, I pretty much sold everything. Was it hard letting go? No, it was time. Now look after nearly 4 yrs, I have way more than I sold, grin. Wishing you a lovely day my friend. smiles
ReplyDeleteOh Shug, good for you giving so much of your stuff to the estate sale. Ohhhhhh, it is SO DARNED HARD for me to let go of treasures. I have let go of tons of things but oh, there are more tons to go. Oh, an holiday stuff! I love so many holiays. And books. And dolls. And costume jewelry. And glassware.........well you get the idea. You are doing a great job and I congratulate you. Your header looks great! Susan
ReplyDeleteI started this same thing a few weeks ago. I have been able to get rid of most my parents stuff finally. I need to box up my mom's dishes and take them to goodwill along with the glassware. Neither of my kids want them and I don't either, I've just been putting it off.
ReplyDeleteI agree - it is hard to let things go - but in the end what is going to happen to all the items. It is scary to purge - but I have done it twice. Once you get going it feels great.
ReplyDeleteGood luck.
Way to go! Letting go is hard sometimes!
ReplyDeleteHow nice that you can add your own things to the estate sale.
ReplyDeleteOh dear. I need to do this, but not quite ready to do it yet. It will take too much energy and it's still too hot to even think about it. But I do think about it...just not enough yet to make myself do anything about it. I need some kind of "sign" to spur me on...or if something happened like our kids wanted to move and we decided to move to be near them...that would do it, but even though they talk about it, they haven't gotten that determined yet either. So until they do, I won't. So there. LOL. Good for you. I am proud of you for doing that. I hope it all sells so you don't have to haul it back home.
ReplyDeleteWe live in an apartment so have never had room to accumulate much. That makes it easy. I'm glad your letting go is working for you.
ReplyDeleteI once went to an auction sale to buy an antique piece of furniture. My mother-in-law came with me. The auctioneer would not sell her - he said she was too ancient!
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
It was a great feeling when I had my yard sale this year and getting so much stuff out of here. I still have a long way to go but it was a nice start.
ReplyDeleteLetting go of things has always been hard for me. I know that the things I'm hanging on to though aren't wanted by either of my kids so I don't know why I can't just get rid of them.
I Still have more "letting go" to do!! It's never ending!!
ReplyDeleteHappy weekend!
hugs
Donna
Shug, recently we moved, as you know, and we sold so much stuff and with every load gone, we felt tremendous relief. Over the past few years, we've had to haul David's mom's stuff from house to house and now that she's in a nursing home, we still have boxes to go through. It's sad to see all the things she spent money on over the years, that are now not important. It really makes you reevaluate what's important and what isn't, especially in light of knowing that our kids will be doing the same one day. A lady came in the library yesterday and was telling me she spent an entire day packing up her mom's craft room and giving it all away. We love stuff, don't we? And you're right...the kids don't want our stuff. And that's ok. I probably don't want their's either :)
ReplyDeleteWow that's a win/win on the company hauling away the things that don't sell. One less headache for you !!
ReplyDeleteSue
Good for you for purging. Again! I've been whittling away at this, but it is difficult.
ReplyDeleteI needed to hear this again, Shug! I still cling to inanimate objects, more out of sentimentality than anything.
ReplyDeleteNow, I so wish we lived closer to one another and I could pop into that estate sale. Having a dedicated dining room for the first time in my life, I've developed what's probably an unhealthy attraction to cloth napkins, and seasonal dishes. It sounds like your 'sale' is going to be a hit!
Oh Shug, I loved your post, all of it. Not only for all the things you let go because someone will truly love and appreciate them, but because of your words about our kids' generation having their own tastes and likes. Although sometimes my kids will want something if it brings back memories for them. I chuckled at your last words about building barns to store all your stuff. Keep treading on with this project, Shug. You are doing a great job. But every now and then, treat yourself to something new. ; )
ReplyDelete~Sheri