I Cannot Get Rid of their Stuff

July 2, 2021

I will never move his stuff, ever.

You don’t have to. There is no law that says you have to get rid of anything. This is a 100% personal decision that we each have to make for ourselves.

Oddly enough, most of our friends and family members will feel that the faster we get rid of their stuff, the faster we will heal from our pain. The truth is, there is no time limit on your personal grief. With or without their personal items, your grief will appear.

Our friends and family have the best of intentions; they are trying to fix the pain because they cannot stand to see us hurt.

But this is your grief. You get to say when you let go of personal items and what you keep. 

Tips for sorting out personal items:

  • In most cases, it is better to do your grief healing prior to cleaning out the personal items.
  • Give yourself some time before getting rid of material things. While in pain, we do not always think clearly and may get rid of personal items that we want to keep.
  • Know that you do not have to get rid of anything.

 

Related Articles

Is My Anger a Result of My Grief?

Is My Anger a Result of My Grief?

Many who grieve exhibit anger or fits of rage. Here are some signs your grief is manifesting as anger and how to find healing and hope. When anger takes hold of you in the weeks or months following the death of a loved one, you may begin to wonder: Is it me or the...

How to Deal with Triggers

How to Deal with Triggers

Anything that brings up memories of a loss you endured is a trigger. Triggers are inevitable—healing and learning from them is a choice. Losing a loved one is an unimaginably painful wound that feels like it will never heal. It hurts so bad that you think you’ll feel...

4 Things to Remember if You’re Grieving While Parenting

4 Things to Remember if You’re Grieving While Parenting

Parenting is hard enough on its own, but adding grief to the equation can make everyday life feel impossible. Here are some tips to help you facilitate healing and hope for your family after loss or trauma. When Erica lost her 10-year-old son in a drowning accident,...