Thank you for your honesty and gracefully articulating what those of us who have had to do this feel. It is not a “privilege” to rapidly clear out 60 years worth of stuff. It is a burden. Sounds mean? This was after I BEGGED my parents to let me help them clean out stuff and make their home safer and cleaner for years. But no. Had to be done in a hurry due to financial and health reasons. The guilt I feel at having to throw so many things away quickly in order to get their house on the market will haunt me. I will NOT do this to my kids and am clearing out now. Stop the generational madness of having to sift through crap. It is heartbreaking, exhausting and wasteful for the people we supposedly care about the most.

My dad died last year, 12 years after mum. Not long after she died he downsized his whole life, house, stuff, paperwork, social life, all of it. In the end, his days consisted of hanging out with his little dog and feeding his garden wildlife. We tried to make him spend his money on having a better life but in the end, he was living exactly the life he wanted. When he died it took us a day to sort his things. He had so little. The birds popped in the kitchen looking for him and his little dog pottered around being a little old dog. I can see now it was a life perfectly unburdened with clutter and inanimate objects. I aspire to be the same.

My mom a year before passing, gave me all her jewelry, her photo album and her diary. At the time when she passed away, there was only small box consisted of her pjs, slippers and minimal clothing. She gave away all her shoes, coats, even table lamps, household items such as thermos, pots and pans et cetera. We didn’t spend any time decluttering her belongings. Thanks Mom.

My 15 year old granddaughter owed me $$$ and asked if she could work it off while I went to my part time hotel job. I am 76. She cleaned out the food storage room. It was hard for me to realize a lot of canned for was never going to be used. It was a great feeling for me, especially after the garbage truck emptied the can. What a hard experience for me, and what a great relief. Anyone want to borrow her? Before people criticize me, a lot of the food was old and expired.

Iove the statements : “ the best time to start is ten years ago, the second best time to begin is today”

My MIL died last month from dementia. Cleaning out her home has been gut wrenching. In the middle of our grief, we've felt so much guilt in throwing out, donating, or selling her possessions. We've had no separation from her since her death. It's made the grieving process so much harder. She kept a beautiful home. She loved to shop. There is SO MUCH STUFF! I've cried everyday since her passing. I will never do this to my kids.

I am one of the few people commenting who had a mom who downsized to a very manageable amount (my dad died young). When she developed Alzheimer’s, my sister and I could give full attention to her care and spend quality time with her. Downsizing was one of those final gifts she gave us, and I plan to pay it forward with my children. This is a video I wish ALL retired parents could hear. Well said!

Ok, I’m 79 years old and I was glued to your video.  I consider myself very organized BUT, my attic is bulging with beautiful precious Christmas Decorations, Easter bunnies, and cute Autumn and Halloween decor.  I love all of it and enjoy decorating my home with it all BUT, I have to pay someone to cart it all down from the attic and haul it all back up again when the specific holiday is over.  So I have decided to keep 5 things from each category and donate/give all the rest away!  I feel better already!!!

The people who are complaining about you are people who haven't had to deal with this situation yet. It's overwhelming!

I love that you warn  us not to waste  time trying to convince loved ones to downsize the hording and clutter. What a brave and selfless thing it was for you to put your feelings out there so honestly and tenderly so that others do not have those same regrets. Your message was heard and embraced!!!

When my mum died 2 years ago, the things I found that she’d kept, my first job name tag, my report card from school, a popped balloon from my son’s first birthday … I could go on, it broke my heart and it meant everything to me … it still burns my soul right now that she kept those things. I love her so much for keeping them.

After my mother died I, as the only daughter, took on the difficult job of house clearing. I had the garbage company bring a bin, I called all the grandchildren to come and choose things that would be memories of grandma, then I proceeded to go through each room. Separated things into 3 categories. Throw, donate, keep. Took me a month but was sure glad I spent the time. The experience has changed the way I live. I’m in a constant state of downsizing and regifting.

I am a believer.  I'm 73 years old and I have been making a real effort to move my "collectibles" out of my home and into charity hands.  I know my daughter and son do NOT want them and I am doing it for them.   It was a little stressful when I first started because I was attached to the memories I had for the items I collected.  However, as time went on I felt relief and a feeling of lightness over unburdening myself from  "things".  It's actually a spiritual experience.

This chick is not crazy. She is beautiful, introspective, helpful, loving and insightful. Thank you for sharing. ❤️

My Dad was a hoarder... the entire lower level of my parents house is filled with crap that's piled up to the ceiling. It's been that way for 40 years. Eventually, water damage destroyed the drywall, the lights stopped working, and the carpet got rotted & moldy.  He died a few months ago... Mom is 87 and has dementia. She will need to go in to a memory care facility, and I will have to sell her house. They had a lifetime to prepare for their old age, but refused to think about it. Instead, they made it my problem. And oh yeah, I live 1200 miles away - I can't just go running over there at night after work. I AM SO ANGRY WITH THEM for putting us all in this terrible situation. Thanks for letting me vent. This is a very important video that everyone needs to see. If you love your kids - don't do this to them.

No shame. No selfishness. Just a much needed dose of reality for us all.

My father outlived my mother by several years, both were hoarders. All my life I dreaded the clean out of the family home, but realised quickly after trying to help him declutter that the task was going to be the same regardless of when it happened, and that he just couldnt do it, so we left it alone. It was indeed as dreadful as anticipated. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for confirming it as the right thing to do. I really feel for you all.

Two years ago my husband and I repainted our home. On this occasion, we threw away a lot of  things. We donated over 100 books to a local school,  gave children's games to children from friends. I also donated most of my clothes and shoes. At the end we were able to throw away the old big wardrobe in the living room and buy a new nice little chest of drawers. Now we have to clean up the documents, photos and my husband's old tools. We will do it in winter evenings.  Our home is now neat, clean, airy. Our grown up children are excited too. The rooms in our home now feel bigger and smell nice because the old clutter is gone.
I am happy that we both managed to switch things in our heads.
Like your video 👍

I totally relate to what you are saying. My mother was a packrat, she saved everything. I used to plead with her not to leave all that stuff for me to clean out when she was gone. When she passed, my sister and I spent 2 years clearing out the house. We met there twice a week, once during the week and every Saturday. My sister had been diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer, and she still helped. I was available to do it only because I had lost my job after 30 years. In the end, we never got to the garage or the basement, which was packed floor to ceiling. We had to call a trash service that came in and took it all away. I know we lost some valuable things. I am still paying for a storage unit 7 years later that holds their furniture and boxes of papers that need to be sorted through. My sister has sadly passed away. The only consolation is that I got to spend that time with her in the house we grew up in on our joint project. It brought us closer.

My mom passed in March. She has Vascular Dementia. Before I realized this, I continually nagged her to address her things, take her meds, etc. I so regret not accepting or understanding what was happening. I could have spent this time just enjoying her company and asking her about her life. Thank you for sharing.