Grandma Evelyn passed away. She was 91 and still as beautiful as ever. A regal and proper woman. She always expressed her dismay when we walked into the house in our oh-so-cool ripped jeans or wore our baseball caps at the dinner table.

And, as we go through the emotional process of saying goodbye to her… we are also prepping her house for sale.

A lifetime of possessions, each with a memory attached. Trinkets and costume jewelry, furniture and clothing from the 60s and 70s (and oh-my-gosh, the 80s).

It’s an emotional journey mingled with the reality of having to get rid of a house filled with possessions.

We are taking piles of items to our local recycle center, donating tons to our local Good Will and Salvation Army, giving things away to friends.

In this process, we are forced to focus on what truly matters. We will only keep what is truly meaningful and of course what can be used to stage the home for re-sale.

You know, whenever someone dies we always hear that they are with their loved ones again. We never hear them say that they are once again reunited with that chair, or artwork or that favorite sweater…  It’s always that they are with the people they love (and the pets they cherished.)

The majority of what we are keeping… what we consider meaningful, are the photos.

With the exception of a few heirloom items we intend to continue to pass on down the family line, what we have boxes and bags of are the photos of memories with our family… and friends. Many already departed.

Isn’t that the truth? That when we die, the only thing that really matters are the memories, the people, the lives we’ve touched. All of the material items are left behind, yet the relationships, the love, the memories… we take them with us.

And the people we love who remain on this planet, keep the memories forever too, passing them on to our children and their children…

This holiday season, instead of worrying about the gifts and the fine china, the house décor… instead of spending excessive amounts of money that will only serve to stress you out and create financial debt… make the people in your life the most important.

In 50 years, that gift that you struggled to find or what you wanted for Christmas will likely no longer have meaning. In fact, you may not even remember that you ever wanted or received it.

Create new and lasting memories, that you will one day find yourself reminiscing with your loved ones in heaven as the people left back on this earth are tossing away or donating all the material items that truly no longer matter.

Wishing you an abundance of peace and joy this holiday season.

We miss you Grandma. Say “Hi” to Grandpa and Dad for us.

Aspire fearlessly,

Comment on this question:

What is one of your meaningful family memories?