Nicole Cooke, Pre-Need Specialist

Nicole Cooke, Pre-Need Specialist Pre-planning your funeral services gives you peace of mind and takes the burden off your loved ones when they are the most vulnerable.

Let me help you with your burial or cremation decisions.

Our treasures don't mean the same to others.
09/09/2025

Our treasures don't mean the same to others.

One day, someone will walk into your home after you’re gone. They’ll open your closets, peek under your bed, and sift through the boxes you swore you’d deal with “someday.” And do you know what will happen? They won’t see your memories, your sacrifices, your “just in case” treasures. They’ll see junk and piles of decisions you couldn’t make. That’s the brutal truth Messie Condo forces us to face: nobody wants your sh*t.

It feels like an attack, doesn’t it? But it’s a compassionate one. Because beneath the sting is freedom. Condo’s goal is to make you realize that the clutter holding you hostage isn’t your legacy, but baggage. And if you don’t start letting go now, it’ll be left to someone else to clean up, sort through, and resent.

This book is about confronting the uncomfortable truth of why you cling to objects, what you’re really afraid of losing, and what it costs you to keep pretending you’ll “use it someday.” Messie Condo holds nothing back, and that’s exactly why her words hit and you simply can’t turn away from them.

Here are 6 Powerful Lessons from Nobody Wants Your S*t*

1. Clutter Is Emotional, Not Practical
Messie Condo drives home that clutter rarely piles up because we need it. It accumulates because of what it represents—our fears, our hopes, our identity. That dress you never wear? It’s tied to the fantasy of a different version of yourself. Those old gadgets? A reminder of money spent and guilt for “wasting it.” Recognizing this truth is the first step. Once you see clutter as an emotional crutch rather than a practical necessity, letting go becomes an act of healing, not loss.

2. Your Stuff Doesn’t Define You
Many of us cling to items because we think they hold our worth. But Condo flips that thinking: your value doesn’t come from what you own, but from who you are. That means the memories of your childhood, your relationships, your victories—they’re inside you, not locked inside objects. This realization dismantles the illusion that your identity will vanish if you let go of things.

3. The Burden of Inheritance
One of the book’s hardest truths is about what happens when we die. All the boxes in the attic, the collections we’ve guarded, the endless “someday” projects—those become someone else’s headache. Condo compassionately challenges us: why force our loved ones to sort through decades of clutter when we can do the work ourselves now? Decluttering becomes a gift, sparing others the emotional weight of deciding what stays and what goes.

4. Guilt Is a Terrible Reason to Keep Something
Whether it’s a gift you never liked, an expensive item you regret buying, or family heirlooms you feel obligated to hold onto, Condo makes it clear: guilt is not a good enough reason. When you keep things out of guilt, they own you, not the other way around. Releasing them is not disrespectful—it’s reclaiming your peace of mind and your space.

5. Space Is Energy
Clutter doesn’t just take up physical space; it drains your mental energy. Every object you keep demands a little attention: to move it, to clean around it, to think about where it belongs. This invisible tax wears you down daily. Condo reframes decluttering as creating room for what truly matters—whether that’s creativity, rest, or relationships. Empty space isn’t wasted space; it’s breathing room for your life.

6. Decluttering Is About the Future, Not the Past
At its core, Nobody Wants Your S*t* is about choosing the life you want to live moving forward. Every item you release is a decision to stop living in “what was” or “what if” and start living in “what is.” Condo urges us to ask: does this item serve the life I want now? If not, then holding onto it is just a way of staying stuck. Decluttering becomes an act of courage—choosing yourself and your future over the weight of the past.

Messie Condo’s book is a tough-love letter to anyone drowning in their own belongings, a reminder that freedom often lies in letting go. Because the truth is, nobody wants your sh*t—and maybe you don’t, either.

Book: https://amzn.to/4mY5rxU

Sadly, we're often the only ones that love our stuff. The art of decluttering is called Death Cleaning and can be a huge...
08/18/2025

Sadly, we're often the only ones that love our stuff. The art of decluttering is called Death Cleaning and can be a huge help to your loves ones after you pass.

Nobody Wants Your Sh*t: The Official Guide to What to Do with Your Lifetime of Stuff by Messie Condo (a pseudonym for a professional organizer and estate liquidator) is a no-holds-barred, humorous, and highly practical guide to decluttering, downsizing, and preparing your estate, particularly for older adults or those facing the daunting task of clearing out a lifetime of possessions. The book's provocative title encapsulates its core, often uncomfortable, truth: your children, grandchildren, or other heirs likely do not want most of your accumulated belongings. Condo cuts through emotional sentimentality with direct advice, explaining why future generations often prefer experiences over heirlooms, and how sentimental value resides in memories, not objects. She provides actionable steps for sorting, donating, selling, and discarding items, emphasizing the importance of doing this work yourself now rather than burdening your loved ones later. It's a frank, liberating, and empowering manual for anyone ready to take control of their clutter and simplify their life for the benefit of themselves and their families.

10 Detailed Key Lessons and Insights from the Book

1. Your "Stuff" is a Burden, Not a Legacy, to Your Heirs: The fundamental, often jarring, truth presented is that your accumulated possessions—especially furniture, collections, and decorative items—are usually not wanted by your adult children or heirs. They have their own lives, styles, and limited space, making your "treasures" a chore for them to deal with. This harsh reality is the book's core premise and motivator.

2. Memories Live in Your Heart, Not in Objects: Condo repeatedly emphasizes that sentimental value is emotional and resides in your mind, not in the physical object itself. You can discard an item and still retain the precious memory associated with it. This distinction is crucial for overcoming the emotional hurdles of decluttering.

3. Procrastination Creates a Huge Burden for Loved Ones: The book strongly advocates for proactive decluttering while you are alive and capable. Leaving a lifetime of possessions for your grieving children to sort through is a massive, stressful, and often costly burden. Doing the work yourself is a final act of love and consideration.

4. Guilt is a Major Obstacle, and It Must Be Overcome: Many people hold onto things out of guilt (e.g., "Aunt Martha gave me this," "I spent good money on it," "This belonged to my mother"). Condo provides strategies to address and release this guilt, reminding you that your worth, and your relationships, are not defined by the objects you keep.

5. Think Like Your Heirs (and Be Realistic): Put yourself in your children's shoes. Do they have room for this? Does it fit their style? Is it truly valuable or useful to them? Being realistic about what others might want helps you make objective decisions and reduces emotional attachment.

6. The "One-Touch" Rule and Small, Consistent Steps: Instead of feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume, the book encourages a manageable, consistent approach. The "one-touch" rule (make a decision about an item the first time you touch it) and working in small, defined areas helps build momentum and prevent paralysis.

7. Digitalize Memories Where Possible: For photos, letters, and other paper-based sentimental items, digitization is a key strategy. Scan documents, take pictures of sentimental items you can't keep, and create digital archives. This preserves the memory without the physical clutter.

8. Understand the Realities of Selling and Donating: The book offers practical advice on the current markets for selling items (most things have little resale value) and the logistics of donating. It sets realistic expectations about profitability and the effort involved in rehoming items.

9. Your Stuff Does Not Define You: Condo pushes back against the idea that your possessions are an extension of your identity or worth. Releasing clutter can be a liberating act that allows you to redefine yourself based on experiences, relationships, and values, rather than on what you own.

10. The Freedom of an Unburdened Life: Ultimately, the process of decluttering isn't just about reducing stuff; it's about creating space for your own peace, clarity, and enjoyment in the present moment. It's about living a less encumbered life, freeing up energy and time for what truly matters to you.

BOOK: https://amzn.to/3HCFKTQ

You can ENJOY the AUDIOBOOK for FREE (When you register for Audible Membership Trial) using the same link above.

Cemeteries are so full of history and so beautiful. I find myself wanting to pull over to visit some while on road trips...
08/15/2025

Cemeteries are so full of history and so beautiful. I find myself wanting to pull over to visit some while on road trips.

199 Cemeteries To See Before You Die, by Loren Rhoads, 240 pgs, 2017.

Would you want your loved one's tattoo after they pass?
07/30/2025

Would you want your loved one's tattoo after they pass?

A TikToker had a piece of her late husband's skin—complete with his Pittsburgh Steelers tattoo—preserved and framed for their young son: "You can see his hair, his wrinkles." bit.ly/4562dQZ

One of my simple pleasures is having my tea in beautiful tea cups, like this dainty one gifted to me by a friend on one ...
07/29/2025

One of my simple pleasures is having my tea in beautiful tea cups, like this dainty one gifted to me by a friend on one of my birthdays.
This tea time gives me time to think and reflect. Y'all, get your affairs in order. This past week reminded me of friends that left us unexpectedly. Young, with young/new families and their loved ones left with how to pay for funerals. Let me help you get that done. Just message me for info. Love you guys.

Even in death!
06/30/2025

Even in death!

I was out of town for a work assignment and, on my way back, thought I'd stop by and visit my stepdad. I found his grave...
06/04/2025

I was out of town for a work assignment and, on my way back, thought I'd stop by and visit my stepdad. I found his grave overgrown with weeds and just a mess. I grabbed a bag from the car and got to cleaning it up. The whole time, I had a conversation with him. As I was about to leave, I took a photo to send to my mom. Just then, a black butterfly came out of nowhere and landed on my phone. I knew it was him saying hello.


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