In this episode of Not Ready Yet: Curating Conversations for the Aging Journey podcast, Lisa Harper engages in a heartfelt conversation with Kathy Vines, a Certified Professional Organizer®, the owner of Clever Girl Organizing®, and author of “Clever Girl's Guide to Living with Less: Break Free from Your Stuff, Even When Your Head and Heart Get in the Way.” They discuss the emotional complexities of letting go of belongings. They explore the psychological barriers that prevent individuals from decluttering, the significance of memorabilia, and the importance of purposeful possession. Kathy shares insights on how to navigate conversations with parents about inherited items, the necessity of having exit strategies for decluttering, and creative ways to make the process enjoyable. The discussion emphasizes the need for kindness towards oneself during the decluttering journey and the value of sharing stories behind cherished items.

Takeaways

• Letting go can feel emotional, especially during life transitions.
• Understanding our attachments to belongings is crucial for decluttering.
• Memorabilia often holds emotional weight that can be overwhelming.
• Photos should be evaluated for their current significance, not just nostalgia.
• Purposeful possession means understanding why we keep certain items.
• Future fear can prevent us from letting go of items we no longer need.
• Conversations with parents about inherited items should focus on their emotional value.
• Having an exit strategy is essential for effective decluttering.
• Making decluttering fun can help ease the emotional burden.
• Sharing stories behind items can enhance their value and connection.

Resources

Order Kathy's book, Clever Girl's Guide to Living with Less: Break Free from Your Stuff, Even When Your Head and Heart Get in the Way

https://www.clevergirlorganizing.com/living-with-less-book/

https://www.quicksandpod.com

@quicksandpod on FB and IG and YT

https://www.clevergirlorganizing.com

@kathyvinessays on IG

© 2025-2026 Lisa M. Harper. All rights reserved. “Not Ready Yet: Curating Conversations for the Aging Journey” is a trademark of Lisa M. Harper.

In this episode of the Not Ready Yet: Curating Conversations for the Aging Journey podcast, host Lisa Harper speaks with Veteran Advocate, Toni Moses about the complexities of navigating VA benefits for veterans and their families. Toni shares her personal journey as a Service-Disabled Veteran and emphasizes the importance of understanding available resources, including the role of Veteran Service Officers. The conversation covers essential documentation needed for claims, recent legislative changes affecting veterans, and the significance of support for caregivers. Toni provides valuable insights and case studies to illustrate the impact of advocacy on veterans' lives.

Takeaways

• Toni Moses is a Service-Disabled Veteran and advocate for veterans.
• Navigating the VA benefits system can be complex and overwhelming.
• Veteran Service Officers are crucial for assisting with claims.
• Documentation like the DD214 is essential for filing claims.
• Recent legislation has expanded benefits for veterans and their families.
• The VA has expedited processes for elderly or terminally ill veterans.
• Caregivers can access benefits for in-home care assistance.
• Many veterans may not know they are eligible for service-connected benefits.
• Disabled American Veterans provide comprehensive support for veterans.
• It's important for families to stay informed about changes in veteran benefits.

Resources

Disabled American Veterans - Office Locator

https://www.dav.org/find-your-local-office/

© 2025-2026 Lisa M. Harper. All rights reserved. “Not Ready Yet: Curating Conversations for the Aging Journey” is a trademark of Lisa M. Harper.

In this episode of Not Ready Yet: Curating Conversations for the Aging Journey, Lisa Harper speaks with David MacMahan, founder of FairSplit.com, about the emotional complexities of dividing personal belongings during estate settlements. David shares his personal experiences that led him to create FairSplit, a platform designed to help families navigate the often difficult process of estate division with transparency and fairness. The conversation covers the importance of estate planning, the emotional attachments to belongings, and how AI technology can streamline the inventory process. David explains the FairSplit system, which allows families to list items, express their preferences, and ultimately divide belongings in a way that minimizes conflict. The episode emphasizes the need for open conversations about aging and estate planning, providing listeners with valuable insights and resources to prepare for these challenging discussions.

Takeaways

• David MacMahan founded FairSplit to help families divide belongings peacefully.
• Personal experiences with loss inspired David to create a better system for estate division.
• Transparency in estate planning can prevent conflicts among heirs.
• AI technology significantly reduces the time needed to inventory belongings.
• Emotional attachments to items can complicate the division process.
• Families often underestimate the overwhelm of estate division without a system.
• FairSplit allows for a structured and fair way to divide personal property.
• The emotional value of items often outweighs their monetary value.
• Open conversations about aging and estate planning are crucial for families.
• Utilizing technology can ease the burden of estate management.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to FairSplit and David MacMahan
01:43 The Emotional Dynamics of Estate Division
04:50 Personal Stories Behind the Passion
06:16 The Importance of Estate Planning
08:45 Utilizing AI for Home Inventory
10:22 Legal Considerations in Estate Division
11:29 The Value of Sentimental Items
14:24 Understanding True Value in Estates
19:19 How FairSplit Works
23:56 Navigating Family Divisions and Fairness
25:17 The Role of AI in Estate Management
26:51 Overcoming the Overwhelm of Moving
27:34 Engaging Family in the Process
29:19 Utilizing Technology for Inventory Management
30:48 Setting Expectations and Responsibilities
32:56 Avoiding Conflicts in Estate Division
33:51 Resources for Executors and Families
38:10 Promoting Transparency and Fairness
42:44 Proactive Planning for Family Assets

Resources

PROMO Code NRYTRYAI for the Starter Inventory ($79.99 value) found here: https://www.fairsplit.com/plans/home-inventory/

Resources Page for Sample Letter of Instruction and 5 Tips to avoid conflict in estates: https://www.fairsplit.com/helpful-tips-and-videos/

YouTube Channel for Dividing Things with David and other tips: https://www.youtube.com/@DivvyMaster

Printable flyers on this page: https://www.fairsplit.com/resources/printables/


Keywords

FairSplit, estate planning, emotional attachments, AI inventory, family conflict, personal belongings, estate division, downsizing, family resources, transparency

© 2025-2026 Lisa M. Harper. All rights reserved. “Not Ready Yet: Curating Conversations for the Aging Journey” is a trademark of Lisa M. Harper.