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Is "de-cluttering" a corporal act of mercy?

Americans are uniquely troubled by having too much stuff.  By the time we reach old age, we can be buried with a lifetime's worth of purchases.

At the very least, this creates a burden on those who inherit the estate, because instead of wealth, they are mostly bequeathed significant logistical problems.

De-cluttering - the removal of surplus items - can be a timely solution and both of my grandparents practiced this long before the term came into being.  They sold their houses and distributed most of their personal property before settling into more modest dwellings.  This removed many of the potential disputes over who should get what, and made the final distribution of property something of an afterthought, since instead of a multi-bedroom home with 3,000+ square feet, a garage and a full basement, the family only had to deal with a small apartment's worth of good.

Alas, not everyone has the time for foresight to do this.

That is where I find myself, helping a parent who has lots of stuff part with it and doing so in a gradual matter.

Is it a corporal act of mercy, or merely an act of charity?  Perhaps filial piety?  It's hard to say.  On the one hand, opening up more room and re-creating a sense of orderly space is definitely a bonus.  However, this is not entirely altruistic - the cleaning now will reap benefits later, and some of the items can either be sold, or will allow what they replace (say, furniture) to be sold.

The ideal solution would be split the proceeds, and I have done that with other elder relations.  But some people can't bear to sell off their stuff, but they can give it to family.  What happens later is out of sight, out of mind.

And of course giving monetary gifts will only result in new clutter.

I'm thinking the best option is to make use of it for a while, and document this in some way - photographing the stuff in its new setting, showing people enjoying it, which then validates the decision to let it go.

I suppose it could also count as "visiting the sick," since there does seem to be a psychological element to this.  If it gets out of hand, other risks emerge, such as vermin or mold, or even the piles collapsing.  Certainly it inhibits mobility and the loss of exercise can accelerate physical and mental decline.

However one defines it, it is a good thing, and time well spent.

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