Clearing a loved one's home can be a difficult and emotional task, but it can also be an important part of the grieving process.
Closure
The process of going through a loved one's belongings, deciding what to keep, donate or recycle can help provide you with a sense of closure. It's the whole aspect of practically tying up loose ends whilst at the same time honouring their memory by making decisions on how they would have wanted to handle things.
Connection
You may come across items that remind you of happy times together, memories of holidays or events. Even simple objects such as personal effects and clothing can evoke a sense of them still being close to you. Small keepsakes might even teach us new things about their life that you didn't know before. Sometimes heart warming, sometimes surprising - it's key to remember that whilst you knew a person from the time they were connected to you, they had a life before that ... your parents were young and single once.
Support for yourself and others
Although it's a daunting task, both physically and emotionally, by helping out you are providing support for other family members or friends who may be struggling with the whole process. If you are on your own tackling the job, reach out for help and if there isn't anybody close to you that you can ask then consider getting in a professional to assist you. It can help reduce the stress levels and having someone onboard that is sensitive to your emotions whilst lending an element of objectivity can be invaluable. It doesn't even have to be help onsite with you in person, someone experienced that you can turn to either online or on the phone for guidance can ease the process and help give you direction.
Space
Clearing out a loved one's home can help create space for new memories and experiences. It can be a way of getting go of the past and move forward. It's important to acknowledge that not everyone's relationship with their close family is amazing. You may have had a difficult relationship at times with the person that has passed away, which can make the process of a clearance even harder to undertake and closure more elusive. Give yourself some grace. It's a pretty lousy time in anyone's life regardless of the circumstances.
Everyone grieves differently and what works for one person may not work for another. Take care of yourself and know that you can always seek support if needed.
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