Memories Don’t Live in Houses
Why is it so hard for many seniors to downsize and move
into a smaller residence?
YOU SAY:
I have lived in my house for years and years
and the thought of leaving it terrifies me.
My house is full of memories and it would be too difficult to leave all of them.
I worked hard all my life to acquire this lovely house and all these lovely things in it, why would I leave it?
I need to keep my large home for my friends and relatives when they visit.
I need to keep my home for investment reasons because renting would just be throwing money away.
I have lots of time, why do I need to do it now?
Why not stay in my big house even if it has several rooms that I never go into?
My grandkids need a big home and a yard to play in.
Why not continue to do all the work and upkeep that having a large home involves? I can afford to hire it out!
It’s too overwhelming to think about decluttering my possessions and moving.
If I stay in my house longer it will be worth more.
I can’t imagine being happy anywhere else!
BUT
I SAY:
You can get help with the overwhelming task of moving and decluttering.
You don’t owe your friends and relatives a place to stay.
You don’t need to stay in your home because your offspring want you to, you don’t owe them anything.
You don’t have to keep your home to be hospitable to your visiting friends and family.
You don’t need a lot of space for grandkids to have fun in.
You don’t have to have big family gatherings at your place anymore.
The number of years you have on this planet may be far less than you imagined.
Do it in your sixties while you probably still have your health and energy to do it.
You need a forward and not a backward-thinking mindset.
Less is more, especially as we age.
Memories don’t live in houses, they live in our hearts.