July 29, 2009
The Museum of Modern Art in New York has a show continuing through Sept. 21 titled “Waste Not”. Listen to the story of artist Song Dong (from the New York Times).
“When Mr. Song’s father died in 2002 his mother was inconsolable. She continued to live in the jammed Beijing house, throwing nothing away and obsessively bringing more stuff into it, as if continuing to feather a nest for a now-absent family. And despite the threatened destruction of the surrounding area, she would make no move that entailed parting with her possessions.”
“Finally in 2005 Mr. Song proposed that they turn the accumulated junk into an art project. In that way, he argued, nothing would be discarded and lost; everything would be meaningfully recycled and preserved.”
“They sorted the contents into meticulous piles and groupings. As a finishing touch, Mr. Song created a neon sign reading, ‘Dad, don’t worry, Mum and we are fine,’ and hung it over the installation.”
When we are moving Seniors or providing Executor Assistance, we often meet people who react to their loss the same way Mr. Song’s mom did. Although we aren’t all artists with his talent, the concept of artfully dealing with the most treasured possessions is a good one. The benefit is that mom is living in a safer and more liveable situation. Think about how you might do this with someone you know.
Read the full NY Times article at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/15/arts/design/15song.html
or visit http://www.moma.org/visit/calendar/exhibitions/961
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July 8, 2009
Some seniors think decluttering is only done when you are getting ready to move. Then the thought of packing up everything becomes daunting. domain traceroute All the more reason to get things organized before you need to move.
For a senior, or anyone who has lived in one place for a long time, the living space can get congested. We keep adding new “stuff” to the space and sometimes forget about what we already have.
Sometimes we just don’t notice that some items needed to be sorted and discarded. business list . When was the last time you sorted your linen closet and discarded the frayed and worn towels and sheets? Or that stack of magazines that keeps getting higher and higher? Or cleaned out the “junk” drawer?
As Seniors movers, our experience shows us that decluttering will:
- Make your living space look bigger and more airy.
- Make it easier for you to move about in your home.
- Allow you to discard items no longer needed and make the useful items reachable.
- Make it easier to keep your home clean as there is less “stuff” to clean and move about.
- Make you feel proud when unexpected company comes calling.
- Allow you to showcase your “memories” in a place of honour.
- Reduce the overbuying of goods because you can clearly see what you have in stock.
- Bring you a sense of calm.
Sometimes the thought of decluttering can be overwhelming. Where could you possibly start? Try tackling a drawer or a small closet. Even starting with a shelf on a bookcase can be liberating. . Look at our Decluttering Checklist and see if there are items on it you recognize. Use the list as your starting point.
At Trusted Transitions we pride ourselves on helping seniors transition to a simpler and less complicated life. Just look at the benefits, and call us for help.
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July 3, 2009
If I haven’t said that statement out loud, I have thought it. In reality however, we often don’t treat those things very well.
Peter Walsh of “It’s All Too Much” and Oprah fame suggests that we ask ourselves these 4 questions about our cherished possessions:
- How are you treating them?
- Are they hidden?
- Are they taking up space in your closet?
- Does the place this important item holds in your life truly reflect the value you claim it has?
If you value an item, you need to show it the honour and respect it deserves. Otherwise it does not have a place in your home. Simply put – either you value something or you do not.
In a past blog, our guest blogger shared great ideas on how her elderly Mother dealt with the keepsakes she valued when she decided to move in “Thanks for the Memories”.
As seniors’ movers, we come across items to pack that are in such poor condition they fall apart when handled. Clearing the far reaches of a hall closet I came across a family bible wrapped in a plastic shopping bag. It disintegrated in my hands. . Though it was no longer of any value to anyone, I felt guilty discarding it because it was so old, but also that it had not been cherished.
Show your memories the respect they deserve. There are many “keepsake” holders, archival paper and frames available now to preserve items. Take a picture of it if it is getting too frail.
If it is something just for you to see, put it someplace where you will occasionally see it.
If it is something you do not like to see, and the memory is not comforting, be brave and throw it away!
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June 24, 2009
In our work helping Seniors move and providing Executor Support Services we often find full closets of clothing that are no longer needed. We always try to sell items before we resort to donation or trash. Whether you have a whole closet to empty or just a few items you won’t wear any more, these handy tips will guide you through the selling process.
- The goal of a resale shop is to turnover merchandise as quickly as possible to offset the limited margin that they make, and to keep loyal clients coming in frequently. So your items must be eye-catching to the typical patron of the shop.
- There are 2 critical factors that determine whether they will take your items: Style and Condition. Style applies to everything; the length of skirts and jackets, the cut of blouses, the toes of shoes, the width of ties and lapels. The staffs in these shops are knowledgeable. They can often tell the age of a garment just from the style of the label. And the items must be in pristine condition meaning no stains, no wear marks, no pilling. Every garment must meet both the style and condition criteria. It doesn’t matter if you bought it 10 years ago and never wore it. It is out of style.
- In this day and age, shoulder pads are a giveaway. Cut them out before you take things in if you want any chance of them being accepted. If it is an expensive piece it might be worth a washing or dry cleaning before you sell it.
- Set your expectations on the price you will get. Resale shops rarely price anything at more than 50% of the original value. You will receive 40-50% of that. And in most cases the price goes down after a month….and so do your $$$.
- Be realistic and generous. Let them donate it to charity if it doesn’t sell. You weren’t going to wear it anyway. And believe me; it is too expensive to store it until it does come back into style!
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June 3, 2009
I never thought of myself as a pack rat. I just kept things in case I needed them again. You never know when you will have a need for that button that comes in the little plastic bag attached to your sweater along with the single strand of thread … until I looked in my button box to realize it was full of little baggies and I no longer owned the sweaters!
Look at the amount of space taken up in your kitchen by twist ties, plastic bread closures, plastic bags and margarine containers. Twist ties need to be banned – you get one for each bag you buy and everyone I know ties them up in a knot by hand!
I didn’t expect that my job helping seniors move from their home of many years would propel me to get my own life in order. EACH of us at Trusted Transitions has gone through a major de-cluttering of our OWN homes. It is contagious. The decluttering bug recently hit my 88 year old Dad. . He has tackled his precious garage and tools and decided to do his “Givin’ while he is Livin’ ” by passing them on to his grandson who has a farm.
At Trusted Transitions we’ve created a Decluttering Checklist of items we think are perfectly OK to get rid of without causing any harm or distress to any one. We’ll keep adding to the list until we cannot come up with any more.
Decluttering is not just for moving! When you get into the swing of it, it is quite a liberating experience. You will feel more alive, unburdened and refreshed.
And remember – Trusted Transitions not only help Seniors move, we are always available to help you REDUCE – REUSE – REPURPOSE – RECYCLE!
Happy decluttering!
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