Rachel Kodanaz on Determining What to Do with a Loved One's Possessions

“If it’s part of the story, keep it. If it’s not part of the story, don’t keep it.”

— Rachel Kodanaz

I had such a great discussion with Rachel Kodanaz for this episode. Rachel was my guest way back in episode 38, discussing returning to work after loss. Her third book, “Finding Peace, One Piece at a Time,” was released recently and is the subject of today’s discussion.

Some topics Rachel and I discuss include:

• Becoming a widowed parent when she was 31 and her daughter was 2;

• How her thoughts about possessions shifted after her husband died;

• Her belief that personal possessions tell a beautiful story of a person’s life;

• The comfort she found in leaving her late husband’s running shoes by the front door;

• Why she prefers to think in terms of “thinning out” rather than “cleaning out” a loved one’s possessions;

• Creating a “Rod box” with some of her late husband’s things;

• Rachel’s “ten essentials,” and some pitfalls to avoid when tackling the project of thinning possessions;

• Building your team of helpers; and

• The magic of the six piles.

I hope you enjoy my discussion with Rachel Kodanaz.

Links & resources for this episode

• Rachel’s web site

• Finding Peace, One Piece at a Time: What To Do With Your and a Loved One's

• Personal Possessions, by Rachel Blythe Kodanaz

• Grief in the Workplace, by Rachel Blythe Kodanaz

• Living with Loss, One Day at a Time, by Rachel Blythe Kodanaz

• Episode 38 - Rachel Kodanaz on returning to work after loss

More links for listeners

• Download: Kids & Grief: What You Need to Know

• Article: I’m a Widowed Mom: Here Are My 3 Tips for COVID-19 Widows

• Book: Widowed Parents Unite: 52 Tips to Get Through the First Year, from One Widowed Parent to Another

Thank you sponsors & partners:

Help Texts - Grief support text messaging service. Tips and support delivered all year long, personalized based on your loss. Listeners get $10 off: https://helptexts.com/jennylisk

BetterHelp - Talk with a licensed, professional therapist online. Get 10% off your first month: betterhelp.com/widowedparent

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