What next?
Many, many years ago, my mother sold the house I grew up in and downsized to an apartment. In doing this, she was forced to take what she wanted, pass on or donate what she didn’t want. Thank you! She is downsizing again and cleaning out again. Again, thank you! This means less stuff that my sister and I will go through in the end (and the opportunity to enjoy items now while she is still alive).
So, what next? This.
“Once you reach the end of middle age (or sooner if you feel like it, or later if you’re late to the exercise), you get rid of all the stuff you’ve accumulated that you don’t need anymore — so that no one else has to do it for you after you pass. That’s according to Margareta Magnusson, author of the new book, "The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Make Your Loved Ones’ Lives Easier and Your On Life More Pleasant," which releases in the U.S. in January.” — Sarah DiGiulio, NBC News
This is Swedish Death Cleaning and with it you get the opportunity to see your loved ones enjoy the items you pass on to them. For my father’s 50 birthday, a sculptor friend made a bronze 50 statue. For my 50th, my mom gave me the statue. The statue has meaning to me since the sculptor, his wife and infant son were over for dinner the night my mother went into labor with me. They waited after my parents left for my grandparents to arrive to look after my older sister. I emailed the sculptor to let him know of the gift and how much I appreciated having it in my home. My mom can see this too, every time she comes to visit.
There is even a TV series on the subject. “As narrator Amy Poehler explains in the show's intro, death cleaning is all about ‘cleaning out your crap so other people don't have to when you die.’” — Sarah Moniusko, CBS News
So why do it?
“’Death cleaning is not about dusting or mopping up; it is about a permanent form of organization that makes your life run more smoothly,’ she explains [Margareta Magnusson].” — Katie Holdefehr, Real Simple. In fact, Ms. Magnusson suggests starting at age 65 and taking your time so you are thoughtful about what you get rid of and/or pass on to others. Emotion plays a role in all of this. Since I just got the “50” statue last year, I have some time before I need to start “death cleaning.” However, I can say that I look forward to the day I pass the statue on to my daughter for her 50th. For now, I am just working on getting my daughter ready to start college in the fall. That’s a cleaning out in another sense— what clothes and shoes will fit in a dorm room?