Bold moves can yield bold results. No way to know what the outcome will be but you are definitely in forward motion. I will be cheering for you!

Big changes, I wish you good.

When it comes to your mother’s “heirlooms”, ask yourself if they special to you only because your mother owned them? One person’s treasure can become a weight to someone else.

When my mother died over 20 years ago, her 7 offspring had a hard time donating many of her things. We divided what we thought was ‘special’ up and each of us took to our homes what we had chosen. Every year or 2 someone would ask, “hey, do you or your kids want this cut glass bowl (or Hummel, or vase etc.)”. No one did. Because she loved the items dId not mean that we had to forever. It was her stuff, not necessarily ours.

I am down to a very few items that belonged to my parents. I will offer them to my children at some point. Chances are their memories of their grandparents are enough. It’s just stuff.

Again, good luck.

maddielee...that entry was so wise. I have a sister who had to move out of her house to assisted living & she was one that had trouble letting go of things. SO much work for the rest of us. I am trying to learn from that experience! The things I've kept from my parents are things I use & love, but I doubt our two adult kids will want much of anything, both living in small spaces & being minimalists. Good luck with your project, Pink, & since we all have the right to feel comfortable in our own skin, you have done what you feel is best for you at this time!

Great advice localeater and applicable to many turning points in life.

maddie that's a wonderful point that because she loved the items didn't mean you had to forever. It's that last word that is so freeing and allows the attachment to change.

Coincidentally I just found an article that provided a wonderfully inventive way to address the decluttering/downsizing process.

I think this is such a great way to say farewell to objects that have been cherished by us or loved ones, knowing that someone we also like or love is *choosing* to take them.

I love this! Thanks runninginplace!

“Coincidentally I just found an article that provided a wonderfully inventive way to address the decluttering/downsizing process.

Action is almost always superior to inaction -good for you. Sounds like a brave decision!

running what a great article. The stories she tells as people take things is the best part to me - that and seeing who takes what! I love going to house sales when the owners are there to tell me the stories of what I buy.

I'm not really having trouble letting go and getting rid of things, just the time to sort through it all. Half of it at least is my stuff from my various work places and home offices. There's been quite a few full time jobs I haven't applied for because I just can't see moving or starting a new job or both with all the baggage sitting around at home that I have accumulated. Also have to get some financial things in order, etc., etc. I kept telling myself that I would eventually get it all sorted by working part time. But it just became a quagmire. Part of it was commuting, and part of it was my job wasn't really part time if you read the description plus the expectations, and I often put in more hours than I wanted to. I wouldn't have minded if I hadn't had so much work waiting for me at home. Something had to give. Eventually I hope to reverse the equation and home will be sorted and I can devote myself to my work more fully. I have no kids, so my work is my life.

Pink, you will feel so free, and you will be your genuine self.

Good for you! The months will fly by, and I agree it will be freeing.

Love the article, runninginplace.

I admire you for taking this step, lpink. You have already done what many are afraid to do. I know the fear is real about the job future, but trust that you are valued and that a job can be found. And with your home worries behind you, you can be more relaxed about the search.

I wish you well as you plow through the days ahead.

Great piece running!

I highly recommend Natasha Hazlett’s Unstoppable Influence (on Facebook). I believe that bold moves beget big rewards.

I’m still happy about my investment in assistance to clear out and organize parts of my house. I still have more to do, but revel in the parts that are finished. Sometimes, you just need a jump start and taking a risk by quitting your job and tackling a big home reorganization may be just what you need. Best of luck to you. I found that the longer I worked on the clear out, the easier it became to give up things.

Good for you! And remember in higher education, it is one of the few workplaces where being older is a positive thing.

Yeah, need to tackle the guest room like eating an elephant, LOL.

Ipink, you have talked about your stresses and I am glad you are taking the time to concentrate on what you need to do.

I am not a collector of things. My thought has always been that "everything" can't be so important. There are a few things that have meaning to me. The rest are just things.

Ten years ago DH's sister and her husband died within five weeks of each other. Their three adult daughters were moving across the country and did not want anything from the house.

IPink, I wish you all the best in this time. I think organizing one's space and belongings is essential, and actually a responsibility. My dad passed last summer, and he lived a very simple and frugal life. But he kept bills and documents from 50 years ago. My siblings and I are weeding through mountains of paperwork, and it's exhausting.

Similarly, just today I dropped off to Goodwill a load of holiday stuff... hostess gifts I didn't need, Christmas gifts I'll never use. One of my goals this year is to figure out how to tell the people in my life that the best gifts they can give me aren't objects. Not another candle or holiday trinket. Ugh.

Thanks for sharing the article, Runninginplace. What a great way to declutter... but my goal is to never have to resort to that. Most of us have far too much stuff that we don't need, and much of which will end up a total burden on others.

lpink, kudos to you for taking the plunge being intentional about it. Good luck to you!

Somoene wise once said there is power in boldness. I hope you reap many rewards from this time you have bought yourself to reset.

Pink - I applaud you for your decision. If something is weighing you down it's tough to be open to other changes or moves. I think one of the hardest things to do is to take on that chore of decluttering our own spaces whether it be one room or an entire home. We did our entire home a few years ago when we were in our late 50's and it has really positioned us to be able to down size when we want to or if we have to.

When my mom and my MIL downsized i only took something if I actually liked it, had a place for it and knew that I would use it. I will create my own memories with it which will be separate from theirs.

Best of luck to you, Pink. I think physical clutter can truly manifest as mental clutter, and I bet you will find it freeing to make progress on the former so you can move forward in a new direction!