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

by Rachel Blythe Kodanaz

Personal possessions tell a beautiful story of a person’s life. Finding Peace, One Piece at a Time  helps to capture and share these stories by providing tools for how to thin, repurpose, and redistribute these possessions so they continue to be with us today and for future generations. In the digital era, personal possessions include not only physical objects but also the accumulated data of a lifetime. These physical and digital footprints combine into an extension of ourselves and what we signify. Finding a new home for these items helps maintain a connection to those who are no longer physically with us. Their possessions embody memories that should be saved, shared, and treasured in the hands of those who want to forever be connected.

175 pages, Paperback

Published October 1, 2019

Reviews

[Geoff · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't the book that I thought it was going to be and that's fine. I enjoyed the focus on re-framing possessions to not just be "stuff" but a part of your personal and family story. But that's a perspective I already have, so the half of the book focused on that wasn't that helpful.

As someone how has a healthy love of stuff, and for whom most stuff "sparks joy," I was really looking for good tips on how to get started and deal with the emotional attachments to stuff. I found Kodanaz's focus on the emotional reasons underlying procrastination really helpful, and i hope to put her "piles' technique into practice.

Someday.

**Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Dottie Resnick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many people in transition be it a new job, moving, death in the family, divorce, separation, etc can benefit from this book. Rachel does a tremendous job in helping one to think about and move through whatever transition may be occurring in your life by outlining some important steps to progress from one stage to another without mental (or physical) anguish.

Many times change can bring about stress, discomfort or anxiety. Knowing how to move forward, knowing how to decide what is important and meaningful can help lessen these feelings. Rachel's personal experience with a terrible loss, plus her insights into how to help others move forward during transition periods make this book a must read.

Rachel's straightforward way of using storytelling to help us sort through possessions is extremely useful, welcoming and rewarding!

[Lisa J Shultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am always interested in topics of dealing with one's possessions and thinning them out in particular. I met the author as a presentation and began to read the book shortly thereafter. The author lost her husband to sudden death and writes about how she moved through the process of deciding what to do with his things. Connecting with the story behind items and deciding what to keep, share, sell or donate is covered.
I particularly liked the last chapter about being prepared, managing your possessions and creating a lifestyle. We never know when we might pass away and it is best to be thoughtful of those left behind by having our affairs in order. The book is written with love and compassion and I recommend it highly if you have lost a loved one.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an important book. No matter who you have lost in your life this book is a great primer on how to deal with all of the material possessions they have left and the emotions that go with deciding what to do with them. It's a subject we never really think about until someone is gone, but it made me think about my own life and what if I were to die and my kids had the unenviable task of going through ALL of my things. There's so much that goes into that process and Rachel does a great job in laying out the best way to get the job done and to recognize and honor the pain that goes alongside the task. A worthy read.

[seahorse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved how Rachel draws readers into her story from the start. Nice balance between pathos and the practical. She describes giving away a crib 13 years after the death of her husband because the time was right. She lets us know we can pick the time for each transition and shows how things and feelings are intertwined. The best part of the book is the organization. In the end, people seek steps. Not knowing what to do with something does put a damper on getting things done.
Everyone who runs a grief group will find this a valuable tool. Very easy read. I enjoyed it.

[Kunni Biener · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book seems pretty useful in the dealing with the possessions of someone who has died. the drawback is that the author did not spend as much time on those who are under time constraints to deal with the contents of a home. In her defense, when her young husband died suddenly she stayed in their home, so she has no personal knowledge of having to deal with "stuff" rapidly. And the last chapter should be avoided, it deals with dealing with your own things and again, she has only her own experience to draw on, so no talk of reading (books) or crafting supplies, just being orderly.

[Leslie Karotkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a helpful book to read. I bought extra copies to share with friends and family. Rachel Blythe Kodanaz has such a great way of writing about a difficult topic. She shares her insights, and also provides very practical tools for dealing with loss. The book is a must have for anyone trying to process the loss of a family member (or friend) where they have to manage the emotions and the tasks related to cleaning out personal possessions.

[Kristi Weltmann Shahnazarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rachel Kodanaz’s personal experience of grief has left her with profound wisdom about how to cope with this most painful―but most human―aspect of life.  Finding Peace, One Piece at a Time is an essential companion for your journey through your loved one’s personal belongings.

Rachel has crafted a poignant, practical and compassionate guide on how to approach and carry out sorting through, thinning out and repurposing your loved one’s possessions in a style that is personal to you.

[Ruthie Voss]

Although it seems like common sense, I was surprised to realize how we often forget and dismiss the emotional connection to our and our loved ones' items. In a clear, helpful and compassionate way, Rachel allows us the time and thoughtfulness necessary to assess an item's importance to us. With meaningful anecdotes, the author shares her own experiences and processes and helps us create our own. This book is a refreshing, necessary look at the emotional meaning of "things"!

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and have given it to several folks as a gift. No matter where you are in life, whether you are cleaning out the space of a loved one, or simple needing to clean out any space, Rachel makes it easy to understand How and Why. It makes a great gift, as so many folks are in the mode of clearing clutter. This is one book you will want to keep!

[Nancy Sharp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish that I had this book after my spouse died years earlier. At the time, I found it impossible to sort the remnants of our old lives in order to make room for my new reality, and the ideas and stories in this book would have brought me comfort and understanding. Finding Peace, One Piece at a Time is practical and wise. It's a must-have for life's transitions.

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars // A relatively small book, written for those that have suffered a loss, are downsizing / moving a parent, or are thinking ahead with respect to possessions. Best in terms of how to approach thinking, although some specifics are also included.

[Alexx · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a helpful guide. Short, to the point, and provides an organized, regimented outline for how to go through possessions. This book helped me feel less anxious and more prepared about tackling the items left behind by a loved one who passed unexpectedly.