Is Collecting Your Passion?

April 2022 – Is Collecting Your Passion

“Collecting is more than just buying items.” ― Eli Broad

That about sums it up – collections represent memories of people, places and things. It is said that collections are like personal museums. This month, we’ll talk about how to baby step your way into reducing the size of your collections…if you dare – or – if you’re moving!

Are You a Collector?

I enjoy calls from people who described themselves as “collectors” because I know they are passionate people who feel attached to their stuff. It’s personally satisfying to identify what means the most to collectors so they can downsize their possessions but highlight (and keep) the things that mean the most to them.
This month, let’s look at the seemingly impossible task of downsizing collections. Here are some thoughts and ideas on how to tackle:

1. If you have a collection of figurines, for example, are there any that are damaged and not in great shape? If so, they might be candidates to say farewell to. Why display broken objects that potentially make you sad because they’ve been ruined? Most items with chips or cracks or missing pieces are not sellable.
2. If you have a collection of clocks or china or teapots, for example, are there any that may take up so much space that they aren’t displayed respectfully. Is it time to make some money and sell the ones that don’t receive proper attention? You’re not seeing or enjoying them so consider sharing your treasures with others who will use/enjoy them.
3. If you have a collection of animals or some other themed collection, it could feel good to start gifting some of it to special family and friends. My mother in law had a large collection of small Swarovski animals and for many years, she would let each grandchild pick an animal every year for their birthday, bringing joy to both her and the grandchildren. 
4. If you have a collection of books – especially books from an author you love(d) – if you don’t think you’ll ever read them again, is it time to gift/donate/sell them so others can enjoy and you can make room on your bookshelf for books you plan to read again or even read for the first time? (NOTE: Books are a touchy subject so if this topic is causing you heart palpitations or you’re sweating, keep your books for now…or start with cookbooks or textbooks that you don’t really use but take up lots of space).
5. Jewelry, purses, shoe collections – all touchy subjects – but all with many possibilities of items that are no longer used or enjoyed. They can be donated/sold/gifted to others who will use and appreciate. I remember my grandmother gifting me her beautiful opal ring and in her words, “I’m giving you this ring before I croak so you can enjoy it while I’m here.” Makes me smile every time I wear it.

Start slow with your collections and see if you can identify ONE item to donate/sell/gift and see how it feels. If it feels good, try one more. If it doesn’t feel good, then move to a different collection or start with sorting and tossing broken pens and pencils to get your juices flowing.
As we always say – a little bit of decluttering is better than no decluttering. Slow and steady wins the race. Happy Decluttering!

Declutter Challenge Club – Join the Fun in 2022!

The Declutter Club is now in its second year and some of our members have signed up again as they are not quite finished with getting through the whole house. We are a small and cozy community where you can get a healthy dose of support, understanding, guidance and laughter, too.
The Declutter Club is a cost effective way to deal with your ‘stuff’ in a fun and welcoming setting. The daily emails are short and sweet and the twice monthly Zoom calls are on Monday evenings at 7:30 pm for an hour.
Membership is open to all, you can start today or whenever you want. Would love to see you there!
If you’re ready to join the Club, sign up HERE. 
Please email me if you have any questions or need additional information.

“Helping Baby Boomers and their Parents Lighten their Loads”

If you are feeling overwhelmed by the amount of stuff in your home, contact me. Together, we can transform your home into a happy, tidy place where you can feel at peace. We can also get you ready for your next move… more enjoyably, faster and easier. We specialize in senior moves and helping families find new homes for the things they no longer have room to keep. We can also take care of clearing out homes that need to be listed quickly for resale. Contact me to schedule an appointment.