Survey #267—Full Response from Ria
| Pronouns | She/her |
|---|---|
| Describe ways in which aging has negatively affected your ability, willingness, or desire to declutter or organize your home. | Although I did a massive declutter over several years (furniture, clothing, momentos, inherited treasures, artwork, books, linens, kitchen and serving ware, bathroom products), I recognize that I still need a calmer home with less to care for. At 70, I don’t have the bandwith anymore to make the tougher calls so procrastinate on it. |
| Describe ways in which getting older has positively affected your ability, willingness, or desire to declutter or organize your home. | I admitted when I was 60 that I drastically needed to declutter my home. I had seen friends’/neighbors’ lives change in an instant due to a debilitating health diagnosis and knew that no one ever has MORE energy and stamina as they age, so better to do it slowly while I still worked. Feeling the difference in my home and attitude makes it easier for me to part with things now. I am in that phase of life where large parties, number of times I will yet redecorate and less interest in maintaining a home are here and I am ready to embrace/admit that. I am single, so there’s no one who wants my treasures, though I have successfully offered some things to friends. |
| Describe ways in which you’d like for your space and belongings to better support your goals and dreams for the next years of your life. | I want a home easy to “put right” and physically clean myself as long as I can manage. I also would like to downsize from. 2 bedroom single family home with basement and garage … and overambitious 45-year old’s garden — to something smaller. Further decluttering will help with that when the move happens eventually.. This will allow me to care for myself, hopefully, as long as possible and give me time to pursue other interests and travel. |
| Here’s your chance to ask Gayle and Ed any question you’re curious about. It need not be related to this survey’s topic(s). If we think that your question—and our answer—might be useful or instructive to The Clutter Fairy Weekly audience, we’ll share them in an upcoming episode. | I forgot the question I asked when I did this on Saturday. Wondering if a session where viewers submit ideas and strategies that worked for us would be interesting for the group. |
| Future topics | Maybe an episode where we answer in depth our fears/real-life reasons for wanting to declutter as we age. Example: my very healthy 87-yr-old neighbor (still mowed her own lawn and snowblowed her driveway) had a massive heart attack. Returned from hospital on oxygen and was told she should arrange hospice care. She had no energy or physical ability — virtually in an instant — to do anything inside her cluttered home. We all are largely in denial what happens to some of us as we age and “tomorrow” or “next month” may not be given us. I’m sure Gayle and Ed have examples to share. It may be the come to Jesus moment some of us could use. |
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