I need to read this book! Keep the Memories, Not the Stuff by Jeannine Bryant is a timely topic for me. One parent passed, one keeps moving into smaller spaces. And hey, Jane has a basement; let's give the stuff to her
has been my family's mantra. And Jane, wanting to help and being a
sentimental person who doesn't want to let go of her parents, takes
their stuff and stacks it in her basement. Even buys new plastic bins
for the stuff. But now I need to downsize. What to do with music
cassette tapes my dad spent so much loving time recording, or every
imaginable kind of hammered aluminum serving tray?
(Apparently, hammered aluminum was a popular wedding gift in 1948.)
I learned of Jeannine Bryant's book at Caregiver.com. Here is the publisher's description:
We all will lose loved ones throughout our lives and dealing with the possessions they leave behind is no easy task. If you have trouble letting go of keepsake items that are attached to memories, this book will help you gain a new perspective on life, love, memories, and how none of it is tied to STUFF.
Reading this book can help you properly keep and treasure the best stuff, while letting go of the rest of the stuff. And finally, help you move onto the next stage of your life. Bryant shares thoughtful insights into the grieving process, our attachment to stuff, and the process of letting go. She also gives many practical tips and hands-on advice for letting go without the guilt and leads readers through an important discussion on what it really means to leave behind a legacy for your loved ones. (Hint: It has absolutely nothing to do with your stuff).
"The brutal reality is that people die, and their stuff must go somewhere.” So begins this honest, direct yet caring approach to our loved one’s memories and the stuff that is attached to them.
We all will lose loved ones throughout our lives and dealing with the possessions they leave behind is no easy task. If you have trouble letting go of keepsake items that are attached to memories, this book will help you gain a new perspective on life, love, memories, and how none of it is tied to STUFF.
Reading this book can help you properly keep and treasure the best stuff, while letting go of the rest of the stuff. And finally, help you move onto the next stage of your life. Bryant shares thoughtful insights into the grieving process, our attachment to stuff, and the process of letting go. She also gives many practical tips and hands-on advice for letting go without the guilt and leads readers through an important discussion on what it really means to leave behind a legacy for your loved ones. (Hint: It has absolutely nothing to do with your stuff).
