Hard Turn

Clutter Crisis: The Emotional Weight of "Stuff"


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Kelly and Mary talk to Suzanne Allbee about the massive emotional and logistical challenge of decluttering, downsizing, and dealing with inherited belongings. Suzanne shares the personal "hard turn" that launched her into this work: helping her father, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, move from a large family home into a senior living community during the COVID-19 pandemic. She offers deep insights into the psychology behind why we hold onto things, detailing different "organizing profiles" like the Memory Keeper and the "Just-In-Case-er". Beyond the personal, the discussion tackles the large-scale cultural and economic shifts affecting how different generations relate to their possessions. Suzanne offers compassionate, actionable advice on how to start these difficult conversations with family members, especially aging parents, and how connecting old possessions to a charitable cause can be a massive motivator for letting go.

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Hard TurnBy KOMO

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