Organizational guru and author of Let it Go, Downsizing Your Way to a Richer, Happier Life, Peter Walsh suggests that you can” turn downsizing into a rejuvenating life change”. One way to rejuvenate your life is to create your legacy that will be forever remembered by family and friends. So, if you are thinking about downsizing but have boxes of memorabilia, photos and stuff, now is the opportunity to create your legacy before you get rid of the stuff.
Here are some suggestions from Seniors Living Smarter, Downsizing Coach, Virginia Lazenby on how to create your legacy;
- Come up with a list of the “bests, greatests, and mosts” in your life, then find objects that serve as reminders of them. Write a story about the treasure or make a video clip to preserve the story. When you are ready to give it away to family or a friend.
- Choose 1 item to represent a collection, for example one special figurine instead of keeping fifty figurines.
- Holidays are special time to spend with family members, enlist their help when creating your legacy. Talk to them about what you are doing, you might be surprised by the positive reinforcement you receive!
- Holidays are special time to spend with family members, enlist their help when creating your legacy. Talk to them about what you are doing, you might be surprised by the positive reinforcement you receive!
- Holidays are a special time to spend with family members, enlist their help when creating your legacy. Talk to them about what you are doing, you might be surprised by the positive reinforcement you receive!
- Plan to give your “legacy” to family or friends so you will be able to share the joy of that person receiving the item whether it is a story, photo or special memorabilia.
Once you have completed your legacy, you can begin to plan your next step, whether it is taking a long planned trip or making the move to a smaller, more manageable apartment or house. You will no longer have that feeling of weight pulling you down from all of the excess stuff that has been in your house but you will have a lasting memory that you can share for years to come.
For more information about downsizing, visit SeniorsLivingSmarter.com, check out our Downsizing Made Easy page and download the 5 Easy Steps to Downsizing brochure. You might also want to plan to attend one of our upcoming Seniors Living Smarter seminars. The seminars are free to seniors and their families, held the third Thursday of every month in Georgetown, TX. To register for the seminars you can call 512-862-7339 or go to our website.