These old shoes

As I am winding up my Co. Clare chapter and returning to Dublin at the end of this month (for an unspecified time), I have been using this time of house move and the seasons end/begin of Samhain to carry out a death clean.....

'What is a death clean?' I hear you ask....

Well, it is a deeper version of a spring clean. Going through each item, book, piece of paper, photograph, piece of art, etc. to reconnect with its meaning, emotional value, and use in my life now and for the future. In end of life planning the first thing people think they only have to do is a Will. Yet a Will defines our belongings and what we want to go to whom. How often do you go through your belongings to take stock, identify and take note for who will enjoy the mementos of your life once you are gone, and reconnect with your joy in all you have accumulated in your fulfilled life and get rid of what no longer is of use or need?

Since I began this process a few weeks ago, some items have been donated, some gifted, and others sold. As I get clearer on what I am bringing with me, and why, I am also able to use this as an opportunity to revise my end of life wishes as well as enjoy reminiscing and reconnecting with it all.

Death Cleaning is a fantastic concept beyond just a 'pack, throw out and move'.

As part of this process of taking stock, I took part today in a '6 word obituary' writing workshop. Seems a bit grim, but I was attracted to it because in my own end of life coaching I often ask my clients to identify themselves in 3 words and ask others to define them in 3 words too. Thanks to Gaye Moore for bringing this exercise to me when she mentored me in 2021.

This 6 word workshop was so interesting and a wonderful way to mark loved ones physically gone from our lives.

Grief isn't time bound, regardless of how long the person may or may not have been part of our life. Even as I am going through old photographs, books I am yet to read, books I have already read, art that was purchased on my travels, and even the mind-numbing admin I have accumulated over the years, taking stock of it all is an incredibly helpful way to honour what was and is important to us, and making space for what we want in our life yet to come. Making space to reminisce is also so enjoyable too and I am really delving into this process with such joy.

If you are interested to explore doing your own death clean and getting your affairs in order, reach out to me here

So as I prepare to say goodbye to East Clare, and in packing up my life to move for a new chapter to begin, it is a nod to all this that I share this song of nostalgia now.

Enjoy.

Jen x

Listen to Old Shoes (& Picture Postcards) here