It was for a childhood friend who had no previous medical issues. He simply died suddenly in his sleep. My friend left an amazing wife and three college-age children who now are dealing with this sudden, unexpected loss. What saddens me more is what has transpired in the weeks since: his wife and children going through his belongings and deciding who gets what, what to keep and what to…it’s difficult for even me to write.

If you have lost a parent as an adult, you know the excruciating pain of this experience. Now imagine if you are just out of your teens? It’s a fate you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy. Yet if you think about it, many people put their loved ones in this predicament all the time by buying items, clothing and other things they really don’t need but feel good in the moment.

I know, it’s a rather morbid way to think about it. And I’m certainly not saying you shouldn’t ever buy anything you enjoy. But if you’re of a certain age, in addition to getting a will together, you may want to think about what would happen if, God forbid, something suddenly should happen to you and your family is left to pick up the pieces literally and figuratively.

We have all heard the expression, “you can’t take it with you.” Most people think that refers to money, but it can and should apply to your possessions–have you ever seen a hearse towing a U-Haul trailer? So, if you subscribe to the philosophy that all these things you’re buying aren’t going with you, should you really go into debt buying them? Or spend countless hours maintaining them? Or, most of all, add to the grief of your loved one by making them spend even more time trying to decide what to do with the things you leave behind?

People must make their own decisions about what to buy or not. But there is no avoiding this truth: we are temporary holders to the many material possessions we store. And not a thing we own will be ours after we pass.

If you want to begin your decluttering now, please give me a call at 508-246-6120.