In fact, the very quilt she had been working on at the time of her death still laid beside the machine. Five years later, Henry called me, and together we presented the sewing machine to a women s shelter. When all was said and done, Helen and Henry s entire demeanors changed, as if great weights had been lifted from their shoulders. They had found closure. Letting go of their loved one s possession helped the grieving spouses shed the burden of grief.
Divorcees can go through similar crises.
If it conjures painful feelings, then the thing goes out the door, immediately. You may want to ask your adult children if they want certain items. If not, send them to the Salvation Army or some other charity organization. When I go through this exercise with my clients, a feeling of lightness always follows. The painful memories seem to disappear along with the material thing that embodies them.