Memories > possessions

Our stories have no expiration date

As the years go on, we learn valuable lessons in life that help shape who we are and who we want to become. Some lessons we learn from our own experiences and sometimes from witnessing others.

My uncle passed away last year and my husband and I were tasked with going to Oklahoma for a month to clean out and flip his house. We were aware he had mental and physical illnesses that made his hoarding unimaginable. Knowing we were taking on a big task, we were aware it would be a change in pace and a journey to later become memories with quite a few stories. (You may have read the blog of us coming home with the Uhaul ;)

On this unexpected journey to Oklahoma, we knew the month would be a long one. Over two weeks, we removed eight, 30-yard dumpster worth of trash & items from the house. After completion of cleaning out the house, we then spent 2 weeks completing the remodeling of the home.

Although the month was long and quite a challenge, my husband and I learned a lot. Taking on such a project together, especially after being married for only two months was taxing on us both physically and mentally. However, we learned so much that I don’t regret it one bit.

The most valuable lesson we learned was that physical items and possessions become clutter in your life. With my uncle's passing and us throwing away eight dumpsters worth of things, I came to realize we don’t take anything with us when we pass on. Out of all the stuff he had, there were only a couple of items that had sentimental value to us as his family, and the rest was just thrown away.

Once we got home, I realized that I had a hard time shopping on Amazon and buying things to just sit in our home. The lesson of realizing that possessions won’t carry on our legacy made me decide that from here on out we will be spending our money on memories instead of items.

This new lesson we learned as a couple has sparked an adventurous attitude for 2023. We have created two jars with ideas in them. One is for local adventures bi-weekly and the other is for short vacations/trips we are hoping to do once a month. Learning that we cherish our memories together way more than spending money on physical items has not only brought us closer together but has us excited for the future and the stories we will make that will last a lifetime!

Written By: Veteran Caregiver / HTH Representative Savanna B.