The Death Cleanse Is Not So Scary

I feel like Margareta Magnusson’s ‘The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning’ has been out forever. I had no idea that when I first read it back in 2018 it was a new publication. I felt like I couldn’t go anywhere without hearing about Marie Kondo or the Swedish Death Cleanse, but I’ve recently realized that way too many people haven’t read or even heard about this book. My mother in law said it sounded ‘spooky,’ but in actuality the concept behind this book isn’t morbid or scary at all. 

The focus isn’t on dying, but about living. Magnusson doesn’t even share her age in the book, just notes that she’s between 80 and 100 and reminds the reader that she will likely die before them. It’s not meant to be depressing, but instead quite the opposite. She reminds us to take care of our possessions so we don’t leave a burden on our loved ones when we’re gone. Just as important, it means we get to have a say in the material items we leave behind.

In fact, instead of leaving behind, give things away so you can actually experience it with the chosen recipient. If there’s a special serving piece that has been passed down, you can decide where you want it to go and with time to maybe make a little note about the significance of the item. It’s about weeding out the things in life that no longer serve us and often keep us tied down. It’s about simplifying life so there is time to do the stuff that’s important with the time we have left.

With Swedish Death Cleaning you clear the clutter to simplify life. None of us know how long we have, so it’s never too soon to start. Families go through so much when they lose a loved one and this is just one way to lessen the burden. By getting rid of stuff that is no longer useful and curating memories with items that are, it eases a small portion of a very difficult situation. Even more importantly, it reminds us to live life to the fullest, take in the experiences and make memories. Less clutter makes that possible.