grief

Decluttering a Loved One’s Belongings After Their Passing

Losing a loved one is an emotional journey filled with grief, and one of the most challenging aspects is the process of letting go of their belongings. Each item holds memories and emotions, making the task a poignant and often bittersweet experience.

Regina Arnold states, “When you’re surrounded by your loved one's belongings, it can be easy to focus on the pain of their loss. However, if you choose to keep only the items that bring you joy, you can remember your loved one in positive and pleasant ways.

In this blog, we explore the steps involved in navigating this delicate process. We will be hosting “Decluttering Through Grief” with Arcelia Cervantes on March 16th to further dive into this subject and give you more help letting go of items.

Here are some tips to explore until then.

Give Yourself Time:

Grieving is a personal journey, and there is no universal timeline for healing. Allow yourself the time needed to process the loss before diving into the task of sorting through belongings. Rushing this process may intensify emotions and make it harder to let go.

Start Small:

Begin with less emotionally charged items. Sorting through less sentimental belongings first can help you ease into the process and gradually build the emotional strength needed for more challenging decisions.

Create a Support System:

 Enlist the help of friends or family members who can provide emotional support and assistance. Having someone to share memories with and offer guidance can make the process less isolating.

Preserve Memories:

Find a way to keep the memories with a smaller footprint on your space. Consider creating a memory box or scrapbook with some of your loved one's belongings. Select items that hold special significance and can be cherished as keepsakes. This allows you to preserve memories while making space for the future.

Donate and Repurpose:

Find purpose in letting go by donating items to charitable organizations or repurposing them. Knowing that your loved one's belongings are contributing to a positive cause can bring a sense of fulfillment and honor their memory.

Seek Professional Help:

If the process becomes overwhelming, consider seeking guidance from a grief counselor or therapist. They can provide coping strategies and emotional support to help you navigate the complexities of letting go. We are excited to partner with Arcelia Cervantes in March to discuss strategies in decluttering.

Create New Rituals:

Establishing new rituals or traditions can help you transition into a life without your loved one. Whether it's creating a memorial space or starting a new family tradition, finding ways to honor their memory in a positive light can aid the healing process.

Know When to Let Go:

Understand that some items may hold too much emotional weight, and it's okay not to part with everything. Focus on what feels right for you, acknowledging that letting go is a gradual process, and it's okay to keep certain items close.

Celebrate Their Life:

Instead of solely mourning the loss, celebrate the life your loved one lived. Reflect on the positive impact they had on your life and the lives of others. Keeping their spirit alive in your heart and through their legacy can bring comfort during this challenging time.

Letting go of a loved one's belongings is a unique and deeply personal journey. By approaching the process with compassion for yourself and your emotions, you can navigate this bittersweet experience and find a path toward healing.

Courage to Cry

Courage to Cry

To cry is to be human and the expression of tears is not new. The history of crying can be traced back to the earliest written records of tears dating back to the fourteenth century B.C. The rituals of tears are well documented and traced in the Hebrew Bible according to Tom Litz author of “Crying the Natural and Cultural History of Tears.”

When A Father Is Gone

When A Father Is Gone

I lost my biological father when I was just an infant. My mother remarried a wonderful man whom I’ve called “dad” since I was three. I don’t know any different, however I’ve always felt the void of not knowing someone who went missing before I could articulate my love for him. I believe it’s because of an instinctual bond we have for our fathers.

Anticipatory Grief~ Preparing to Say Goodbye

Anticipatory Grief~ Preparing to Say Goodbye

While most people associate grief with the aftermath of a loss, grief can also begin before the loss occurs-a phenomenon known as anticipatory grief. This kind of grief arises when individuals begin mourning in advance, often in response to a terminal diagnosis or a slow decline of someone they love. Unlike the grief we typically know, anticipatory grief encompasses a mix of hope, dread, and preparation, making it a uniquely layered experience.

When Grief Comes To Class

When Grief Comes To Class

Every student deserves to feel accepted, understood, and supported after a loss. Grief can occur from any type of loss, change, or transition (not only death losses). For example: friendship changes, break ups, moving schools/states, natural disasters, man-made disasters, medical diagnoses, physical changes, financial changes, etc.

Calming Your Fears

Calming Your Fears

Anxiety is one of the most commonly felt emotions after a loss, yet those experiencing anxiety often live those moments alone. Grief can make us feel as if we’ve lost our sense of safety and control. It’s natural and normal to feel anxious or worried about what might happen next or even to worry that we might lose someone else in the future.

7 Habits to Start After Loss

7 Habits to Start After Loss

Experiencing loss—whether it’s the passing of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or a major life change—can feel overwhelming and disorienting. In the midst of grief, it’s easy to feel stuck, unsure of how to move forward.

Healing takes time. Grief cannot be fixed or hurried, but nourished and supported. Establishing small, intentional habits can help rebuild a sense of stability and hope after loss.

Together, we’ll explore seven simple but powerful habits to incorporate into your daily life after loss—practices that foster healing, resilience, and a renewed sense of purpose.

The Power of Connection Through Support Groups

The Power of Connection Through Support Groups

The idea of joining a grief support group might feel uncomfortable, especially if 1) you’re an introvert, 2) you’ve never done it before, or 3) you don’t like admitting that you need help. But really, grief support groups come in all shapes and sizes. What is a support group?

Grief Gets Physical

Grief Gets Physical

When we go through something traumatic, our bodies react. It knows there is a system failure and goes into a “shock” which manifests in a myriad of physical and behavioral reactions. Grief is felt everywhere, but we are really only told how we will feel emotionally…sad. The truth is, our whole body is sad, but it shows us in many different ways.

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Films That Navigate the Grief Experience

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Films That Navigate the Grief Experience

Movies centered on grief provide a unique and powerful way to explore the complex emotions of loss, healing, and resilience. By telling stories of characters navigating their own grief journeys, these types of films can offer comfort, validation, and insight to viewers who may be dealing with similar emotions.

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A Formal Introduction: Hi, I'm Jill

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A Formal Introduction: Hi, I'm Jill

I’m Jill, a professional griever. When I was 16 months old, my biological father left me and my 24-year-old mother for the day, took his small aircraft up over our family ranch, crashed and was killed. From that day on my life was forever altered. I spent my entire childhood and young adulthood grieving, healing, questioning, grieving, and healing some more.