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How to Say Goodbye to a House — 8 Comments

  1. In 2009/10 I said goodbye to my mum’s house, clearing out, sorting, not being able to spend the time I needed. I put my effort into making sure it went to someone who would love it. My mum’s solicitor and her family bought it. That continuation helped. While clearing it out, I went to a pool near Ipswich and first saw someone teaching the Shaw Method. Two years later, that led me to the Alexander Technique. I have just graduated in both of these. It started with the clearing out of a house. Life is full of surprises amongst the heartache. My thoughts with you, Imogene.

    • It is amazing sometimes how challenging times lead us to some of the most rewarding things in our lives. So happy you found the Technique…AND the Shaw Method! Thanks so much for your comment, Bridget.

  2. I left my Mum and Dad’s house after 32 years of living there (sold after their deaths). Clearing wasn’t easy but I had much more time to do it that you did so that helped a lot. Three piles while clearing – keep, go, and still to decide. Still to decide things were decided at a later date (as I say we had much more time). I was numb on the day we left; sat on the doorstep while my brother went through various items with new owner. All felt so unreal. It was made worst by the new owners wanting to show us the plans for the new house they wanted to build after pulling our home down. I remember thinking this is not what I want to hear now at this point. I’m afraid I couldn’t show much interest in their plans. One minute after leaving the house for the last time I had a flat tyre in my car and pulled into a nearby pub car park. My brother had already driven off to Durham. I sat in my car and thought I can laugh or I can cry. I chose not to cry. It was a very different weird day. I have a lovely photo album of photos my sister took of each room in the house before we did any serious emptying so it is lovely to see that occasionally. But I can candidly say I rarely now think about the house because if I do I usually make myself think of something else. I am truly grateful for the years I was there – they were extremely happy – but it can make me sad if I think about it too much.

    • Hi Hanneke! It’s so amazing to hear from you, and find out you read my blog!! I’m sure I remember visiting you at your parents’ house when I still lived in Manchester, which seems like a lifetime ago. Your story is so sad. I’m glad I didn’t meet the new owners of my parents’ house, nor learn of any of their plans (though another part of me is intensely curious!). Thankfully I don’t think pulling it down will be an option as it’s a semi. I like to imagine new life being breathed into it, and maybe a next generation enjoying it and building their own memories. I’m having a lots of dreams about being in the house at the moment in very weird circumstances. Thank you so much for writing. Leaving a house – a home – like that is a huge deal. You will always have your memories, which it sounds like you treasure. Thank you so much for sharing your experience.

  3. I find this interesting because I’ve been forced to leave a couple of houses. I didn’t really have a chance to do this for one.

    About 11 years ago, my father was out of the country and his business partner did something illegal. Unfortunately, that prevented him from coming back to the states. With his source of income gone, we were forced to leave a house that we’d moved into. Moving a 4 bedroom house out in a matter of a couple days, especially right at the end of my teens, was like having everything taken in a whirlwind. And then I’d had a series of places that I lived, sometimes moving every 6 months, until I was finally able to get things back on track and stable 4-5 years later. But now I have to think back to that house and try to remember it without ever having had that closure. I guess that’s why I do what I do now in real estate to help people that are going through tough times.

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