Home is where the heart is….that’s how the saying goes, anyway. I run into several Indianapolis senior citizens who would beg to differ, though. Or maybe home is where their heart is and they have an extraordinary amount of heart (aka stuff). One lady I was on the phone with this week has been considering a downsize for several months. She finally told me that she was embarrassed to have me over because of the condition of her house and the amount of stuff in it.
I love stuff! My calling in life is to help Indianapolis area seniors sort, organize, liquidate, move and unpack their stuff. Its what I love to do-help people downsize (or “right size” as some folks call it).
Feeling overwhelmed is a theme with nearly every client of mine. I’m adding a new feeling after my phone call with the gal I mentioned above. Shame. In her book “Daring Greatly,” Brené Brown explains that in order to combat shame, we can cut it off at the knees by cultivating awareness of it and naming it.
And here’s the best part-we ALL have shame! So in short, you are not alone.
Feeling overwhelmed, shameful, embarrassed, stressed, anxious, worried, scared, paralyzed, tired, depressed, and even hopeless are all natural feelings when we are faced with large tasks and important decisions, such as de-cluttering and downsizing. I don’t know about you, but I like knowing I’m not alone in my feelings and experiences. It makes me feel normal. It also tells me that someone else has been through whatever it is I’m going through (I’m not quite downsizing age yet, but I have a two young kids and one is a teenage, red headed boy…need I say more?).
People before you and people after you will face the decision of whether to downsize or age in place. Knowing that others have done it successfully is a relief because it means you can do it, too. The best advice I can give you is to hire professionals. They will likely not be the least expensive, however, true professionals that work with senior citizens who are downsizing and relocating into independent living, assisted living, memory care, or even skilled nursing is the best way to ensure the smoothest transition with your best interest in mind.
http://https://youtu.be/8oC13t98v_M