I help busy women free themselves from clutter, create an organized home, and reclaim hours in their day. Let's kickstart your decluttering and create a home you love. Sign up here!
Grief, glitter, and what we leave behind.
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Hey Reader, I'm not going to lie. It's been a rough few weeks. My father-in-law passed away in August. One of my clients sent me this... Someone said grief is like glitter. It clings to everything. Hides in corners. Slips into your socks. Appears on your fingertips when you’re reaching for a glass of water, or brushing your hair before bed. It settles in places no one else can see. And sometimes, it sparkles. Sometimes, it doesn’t.
There’s no proper timeline for learning how to live with what you miss. Some days you’ll do it gracefully. Other days, you’ll choke on it. That’s still living.
And maybe that’s the kindest thing about grief: it’s evidence that something mattered.
My father-in-law did indeed matter to us. Yesterday, I stood in his closet, organizing and boxing things up. We took his painting supplies to the art studio where he used to paint with other residents at his retirement village. The staff there were so grateful for the donation. My husband quietly said, “It’s sad that my father’s life will be reduced to a few boxes.” I thought about that. He’s right. But as you know, it's never been about the stuff for me. And it never will be. As I help my aging parents, this feels more true every day. Maybe that's why you're here, too. → You want your life to be about more than boxes of stuff. → You want your life to be about people. → And you don’t want to leave your family with the burden of sorting through it all someday, while they’re also trying to grieve. I hope that is what you're thinking. And if you’re ready to make the time you have left in this world mean more than a couple of boxes, hit reply and let’s talk. Amy |
Simply Enough by Amy Slenker-Smith
I help busy women free themselves from clutter, create an organized home, and reclaim hours in their day. Let's kickstart your decluttering and create a home you love. Sign up here!
Hello Reader, Writing this week's email is hard. Normally, writing is a healthy process for me. I can get deep into my work and sit at the computer for hours. I write about empty nesting, decluttering, and even travel, but I’m also smack in the middle of the joy of watching my son become an amazing young man—and the heartache of watching my parents age faster than I’d like. Last week, after months in hospice care, my father-in-law passed away. I wrote a tribute to him here if you'd like to...
Hey Reader, One of the things I remind my clients often is this: When you bring down the volume in a space, it has a way of organizing itself. What’s left is the stuff you want, need, and use. That’s when creating systems gets easy—because you’re not organizing clutter. You’re creating clarity and sanity. And the habits you create from there? That’s what makes it stick. I just shared a new video all about this idea and how you can start making it work in your own home. You can watch it here:...
Hey Reader, I’ve started something new—I now have a YouTube channel where I share one new video every week. They’re short, practical, and designed to help you make space for what matters. Here’s the one that everyone’s been talking about (and yes, the title has a bit of irony 😉): 👉 [Watch the 2-minute video here] I’d love your input—do you prefer learning through quick videos or thoughtful articles? Which topics are most helpful to you right now? (Dishes, clothing, habits, back-to-school,...