Decluttering: We can’t take stuff with us

For three years in a row, my aunt has had her neighbors over to join us for Thanksgiving. They were a very cool older couple. Upon meeting them they wanted to talk tattoos and I complimented their steampunk hats.

They described their home and all the art they had inside. It sounded beautiful! Last year we got to visit their home for the first time. Art was displayed on all of the walls. There was a piano that was painted by high school students; I can’t recall how it looked, only that I was very impressed. Their living room was one that seemed like it was for display only.

Their bathroom had custom bowl sinks with carp fish designs. I’m not giving it justice by leaving out other details, but I remember thinking that I wanted to redesign our bathroom ASAP. Ours was no longer good enough!

We went to their pool table room that had a waterfall type sink in it next to their bathroom. Every room left our jaws dropped! My then 12 year old was so impressed she wanted to go home and clean her room haha! We ended the tour by walking up outside stairs that led to their roof. We got a beautiful view of the city.

This year, the couple was not there. The wife was invited but did not come. We found out mid meal that her husband passed away. She had to sell the art and their home. We were all in disbelief. They were such a greet couple together and it was only a year ago that we had been in awe after viewing their artwork and home.

I’m thinking of them this morning because I am on break from work and I’m back to decluttering a few things. I’m trying to remind myself that we can’t take this stuff with us. Where would this stuff all go if we were suddenly gone? It’s a very unpleasant thought, but I’m trying to think of the bigger picture, remembering why we can’t keep it all.

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