When I worked as an ER nurse ages ago, I used to love having children come in. Yes, they were sick and/or injured but I felt I could make a true impact on their lives. I never lied to my little patients. I believed in giving them choices. One particular choice was in regards to getting injections. They were never fun. Most time, the anticipation was worst than the actual shot. The choice they were given went something like this. I'd tell them they had to get the injection. But there was a choice. There was an easy way, there was a hard way and the choice was really up to them. I'd then ask if they were interested in hearing the choice. They'd generally say yes.
The hard way involved them wiggling around, trying to avoid the injection. I'd explain I would have to bring in help to hold them down. If they wiggled enough, the needle might come out, I might stick myself and would have to insert it again. We'd get the injection in but it would not be easy. The easy way involved them squeezing their parent's hand as hard as possible, laying very still. They could also scream as loud as they wished. They'd pick the easy way. Their parents would end up with sore hands, the room was often invaded by my coworkers wondering what I had done to illicit the racket. At the end of the injection, my little patient would often rub their buttocks, frequently with a tear rolling down their face stating it really wasn't so bad.
So it is with moving. Having been actively assisting older adults for more than 16 years, I've discovered the easier ways and have often been mired in the hard way. The easier way involves a specific mind set and process.
My first suggestion is to look forward to your new life style. It is not about how to make everything fit into the new home but to truly look at what you are currently using and where you live in your home.
My next suggestion is to move before you empty the house. This method is less expensive and a whole lot less stressful. Concentrate on identifying the things you wish to keep because you love them, need them, use them and enjoy them. If you move first you can modify your choices because you have not yet disposed of anything.
What about family? How do you ascertain the value of what is left? There are ways to accomplish this. Even with disposing of what is left... there is an easy way and a hard way.