Why You Can’t Let Go of Your Pet’s Things (and How to Start When You’re Ready)
It’s been three months since we lost our dog, and I still can’t move his bed away from the back door. The blanket is still rumpled the way he left …
Declutter
I Had to Empty Mom’s House by the End of the Month. I Had No Idea Where to Start.
When my mother passed, my brother and I decided to sell her house. It was too much to keep, and neither of us lived nearby, so putting it on the …
The Hardest Thing I Inherited Wasn’t the House. It Was the Photos.
When my mother passed, I braced myself for the big things. The house. The furniture. The bank papers, the car, all the pieces of a life that have to be …
What to Do with All the Coffee Mugs You’ve Collected Over the Years
I opened my kitchen cabinet one morning and a mug nearly fell out on me. I caught it just in time. And when I really looked at that shelf, I …
What to Do with Trophies, Plaques, and Awards Nobody Displays Anymore
Somewhere in most homes, there’s a box of trophies. Maybe it’s in the attic, or the back of a closet, or down in the basement. Bowling trophies, a plaque from …
Does Keeping Their Things Really Keep the People We Lost?
There are three generations of dishes in my basement. My mother’s good china. My aunt Ruth’s everyday plates, the ones with the little blue flowers. A full set from my …
This Odd Little Method Helped Me Finally Decide What to Keep
Last month I set aside a whole Saturday to declutter my living room. I had trash bags, a donation box, and every intention of getting it done. Four hours later, …
I Know Humming While Decluttering Sounded Silly. But Then It Worked.
I’ll be honest with you. When I first heard that humming could help you declutter, I rolled my eyes. Humming? Like a little song while I clean out a closet? …
When You’ve Outgrown the Things You Used to Love (My Decluttering Story)
Have you ever picked up something in your own home and thought, why in the world did I buy this? Not because it’s broken or worn out. But because it …
What If I Regret Throwing This Away?
Decluttering was never hard for me because I loved my things too much. It was hard because I was scared. Scared that the minute I let something go, I’d need …