The Power of Letting Go

Make it fun. Have a dinner party or cookout and invite your close friends and family over and ask them to share stories of the fondest memories surrounding some of the items in your home. The person who shares the fondest memory of a particular item will get to keep that item when you pass away. Designate this item to be left to them in your will. Each person will only inherit one or two items so their space doesn’t become cluttered.

Any item that does not get included in that story and you have not used or planning to use within the next year should be sold or donated to charity such as Habitat for Humanity or local charity that is dedicated to giving back to the community.

Over the years, clothes and shoes accumulate. Now that you are retired, you probably won’t need or wear the clothes you once wore to work. Now is a great time to think about all the people who could benefit from your professional clothes. Consider donated your clothes to a charity organization such as Suited for Change, Dress for Success or your local Workforce.

Other contributors of clutter are books and paper. Books are meant to be read and passed along. Unless the book could be indoctrinated into the Library of Congress, it is time to let them go. Donate them to your local library. Some organization will even pick up your books for free such as Shopiago (cause books are heavy).

Allow yourself one file draw to keep paper documents. The most important paper that should be kept in your filing drawer are your Advance Directives, a paper copy of your will and only the most recent financial documents. Anything that can’t fit in your file should be shredded or stored electronically. Any documents that are really important to you, scan and save them on your computer or on a cloud platform such as Drop Box.

The greatest expression of love is demonstrated in the legacy you leave.