"Our house contains things from his family and my family. For a long time, I have hung on to them all because of sentiment. The children do not want them, and who would want a 1945 contact lens or bottles from my great-grandfather, the drunken vet? Then there are valuable things: the grandfather clock from my husband's family; the exquisite wool blanket and waistcoat (tatty and ripped) brought back from Afghanistan in the 1970s."
"It is taking time, because I really want to find the right person to take ownership of these things. I am letting go and there is huge satisfaction in finding the right home for all of these items. It has been startling how conversations lead to homes for example, the friend of my husband who, because of his Parkinson's, moved to an apartment. He mentioned that they would love a grandfather clock. How perfect that the family clock should go to him."
A 76-year-old widow keeps objects from both families in her house, saved largely for sentimental reasons after her husband's death almost five years ago. The items range from small, odd keepsakes to valuable heirlooms such as a grandfather clock, an Afghan wool blanket and a worn waistcoat. She has begun a Swedish death clean and prioritises placing items where they will be appreciated. Conversations have led to suitable new homes: a friend with Parkinson's received the clock, a crafty friend repaired and kept the blanket, and the waistcoat sold online. Somatic therapy has helped her process trauma and enabled emotional letting go, bringing satisfaction and a sense of lightness.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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