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%.
DeleteShug... have you been peeking into our house? HaHa we are attacking a huge closet today. To our kids we are Hoarders and we probably are so some extent but we do love a lot of our stuff". But ... if its still in a tub after many years we are not enjoying it. Selling on eBay has been good but its so slow and time consuming. Many things are going into a Donate pile. I don't think Dave and I can handle another garage sale on our own. Our style definitely isn't our older sons style and he will be just get rid of it...
ReplyDeleteProbably an estate sale is the way to go. 60-40% sounds fair to me for all of the work the company has to put into it.
Good luck
Sue
awesome!! 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!!!
DeleteWhat 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.
ReplyDelete