Estate planning often brings us face-to-face with one universal truth: most families accumulate far more belongings than they ever intended, and it’s refreshing ot experience the Magic of Less.
Closets fill, basements overflow, and sentimental items from decades past quietly take up residence in the corners of our homes. Much of our work involves helping families sort through these belongings after a loved one passes—important, but often emotional, work.
But there is a different way. A lighter way. A joyful way. And it begins with what I like to call the Magic of Less.
Several years ago, our children gave us a Christmas gift that was as surprising as it was meaningful: they gave us a spring cleaning and clearing day, taking out their own belongings from our house.
No sweaters. No gadgets. No gift cards. Instead, they gifted us something far more valuable—space, order, laughter, and a chance to share memories.
Like many parents, we had unknowingly created several “mini-shrines” in the basement: grade-school art projects, sports trophies, handmade ceramics, and odds and ends that seemed too sentimental to throw out but not exceptionally sentimental enough to display. Swedish Death Cleaning enthusiasts would have had a field day.
As they began sorting their childhood treasures—saving some, laughing at many, and discarding most—I wandered downstairs and thought to myself: “Most families do this after someone dies. What a blessing to be here helping while everyone is here, alive, well, and laughing.”
There were stories. There were discoveries. There were howls of laughter at forgotten relics (“Did I really think this haircut was a good idea?”). And by the end of the day, our basement had been transformed—not just physically, but emotionally.
We were lighter. Freer. Happier. And deeply touched.
So if you’re wondering what to give aging parents, what to request from your grown children, or what to offer a friend or sibling who insists they “don’t need anything”… consider the gift of less.
A Decluttering Day is affordable, practical, meaningful, and truly unforgettable, with the Magic of Less. It relieves a future burden, creates shared memories, and sparks reflection about what truly matters—long before estate administration begins.
From an estate planning standpoint, this simple act is one of the greatest gifts a family can give itself. Swedish Death Cleaning and Marie Kondo have helpfully raised awareness that there can be joy in tidying, but at its core, decluttering is an act of love. It lightens not just shelves, but hearts.
This holiday season, instead of giving something that will sit in a drawer, think about giving—or requesting—the Magic of Less as a gift that creates space, joy, and peace of mind.
Because the true magic of less is that it makes room for more: more connection, more laughter, more clarity, and more of the life you actually want to live.
It is the gift most precious to aging parents, the gift of time.
And your basement will thank you.