Right-sizing is Not for Wimps!

Right-sizing is Not for Wimps!

February 7, 2018

Just the thought of going through stored boxes can give the best of us a pain.  Going through the process of right-sizing to a smaller home takes a lot this kind of stress.  When Mr. Blogger and I moved to Stillwaters in 2007 I remember getting rid of a lot of “stuff” and yet we still had a storage unit for many months after the move.

The process of weeding things out and finding the right places to send your treasures takes time and while you are in the middle of this process it can seem endless.  I remember we were so proud of ourselves when we were finally able to close out our storage unit and have all our belongings under our roof!

Throughout this process there is a good amount of struggle with 1) what to keep; 2) what does it mean if you give away what was a gift from someone; or 3) how to give up keepsakes from people who are no longer with us.  Right-sizing is an emotional, as well as physical process, that takes extraordinary energy and strength.  It also a process that never ends because once you have moved into the smaller space you have to keep sorting and disposing to keep things cleared away.

This week I helped a life-long best friend sort through her keepsakes, gifts and years of other important items.  This was hard work but at the same time it brought up so many memories and stories.  We had a grand time rediscovering long forgotten memories, long-buried remnants of childhood and leavings of grown children.  I am sure for my friend it was bittersweet to be right-sizing but at the same time it was a project hopefully made better by our hours of reminiscing and discoveries as we traveled down memory lane.

This process of getting rid of things can be likened to the grieving process after loss.  The five stages of grief were originally theorized by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and include Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. The theory that grieving individuals go through these five stages (not necessarily in order either) was proposed in her book, “On Death and Dying,” which was published in 1969.

There is a degree to which we all want to deny the need for sifting through our things, bargaining with ourselves that we will do this at a later date and maybe even depression over the thought of the whole process.  Bitter or time consuming as the process may be there is a light at the end of the tunnel – the peace of doing the hard work so someone else doesn’t have to and the sense of accomplishment in a job well done!

Quote of the Week:

If you really want to do something, you’ll find a way. If you don’t, you’ll find an excuse. – Unknown

 

Something Different:

If in your adventure in right-sizing you find you need a place to donate things – consider the new Lewis County Seniors Thrift Shop located next to the ACE Hardware in Chehalis.  It opened Monday and all profits will go to supporting Lewis County Senior Centers.  The address for the thrift store is 749 South Market Blvd.  Check it out to donate or make purchases.


stillwatersestates

1 COMMENT
  • Joyce Butkus

    cindy, can you tell me the name of the rose in this blog? It is beautiful!

Comments are closed.


Stillwaters Estates complies with Federal Fair Housing Laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, familial status, and disability in the admission or access to, or treatment or employment in its housing programs and activities. Stillwaters Estates is also Fair Housing compliant regarding State, County and City definitions of protected classes. The Fair Housing / 504 Coordinator has been designated to coordinate compliance with the nondiscrimination requirements contained in the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s regulations implementing Section 504 (24 CFR, part 8 dated June 2, 1988).

What information do we collect?

We collect information from you when you fill out a form.

When requesting information on our site, as appropriate, you may be asked to enter your: name, e-mail address, mailing address or phone number. You may, however, visit our site anonymously.

What do we use your information for?

Any of the information we collect from you may be used in one of the following ways: To send periodic emails.  The email address you provide, may be used to send you information and updates pertaining to your request, in addition to receiving occasional company news, updates, related product or service information, etc.  Note: If at any time you would like to unsubscribe from receiving future emails, please just notify us by email at [email protected]

How do we protect your information?

We implement a variety of security measures to maintain the safety of your personal information when you enter, submit, or access your personal information.

Do we use cookies?

We do not use cookies.

Do we disclose any information to outside parties?

We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer to outside parties your personally identifiable information. This does not include trusted third parties who assist us in operating our website, conducting our business, or servicing you, so long as those parties agree to keep this information confidential. We may also release your information when we believe release is appropriate to comply with the law, enforce our site policies, or protect ours or others rights, property, or safety. However, non-personally identifiable visitor information may be provided to other parties for marketing, advertising, or other uses.

California Online Privacy Protection Act Compliance

Because we value your privacy we have taken the necessary precautions to be in compliance with the California Online Privacy Protection Act. We therefore will not distribute your personal information to outside parties without your consent.

Children's Online Privacy Protection Act Compliance

We are in compliance with the requirements of COPPA (Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act), we do not collect any information from anyone under 13 years of age. Our website, products and services are all directed to people who are at least 13 years old or older.

Your Consent

By using our site, you consent to our websites privacy policy.

Changes to our Privacy Policy

If we decide to change our privacy policy, we will update the Privacy Policy modification date below.

This policy was last modified on March 8, 2013

Contacting Us

If there are any questions regarding this privacy policy you may contact us using the information below.

www.stillwatersestates.com
2800 Cooks Hill Road
Centralia, WA 98531
USA
[email protected]
360-736-4744