337: Sentimentality, Letting Go, and What Home Teaches Us with Andrew Wells

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In this heartfelt episode, Andrew joins me to share the story of our unexpected mold crisis—one that forced us to let go of sentimental items, old hobbies, emotional keepsakes, and "someday" things… almost overnight. What started as a stressful, logistical nightmare in our basement turned into one of the clearest real-life lessons we've ever had about clutter, attachment, identity, and what truly matters.

We're taking you behind the scenes of what it was really like to lose a space that held so many of our memories—Andrew's office, our wellness area, guest room, and our entire storage zone. What we learned surprised us both: what we missed, what we didn't, what stirred emotions we didn't expect, and what letting go made room for.

If you've ever feared "What if I need this someday?" or felt stuck because everything feels meaningful… this conversation is going to feel like a warm exhale.

What You'll Learn

• How our mold discovery forced a decluttering process we didn't choose—but deeply benefited from

• Why "I might need it someday" feels SO real… and how to see through that fear

• What sentimental items actually represent—and why letting go doesn't erase the memories

• Andrew's journey from "the guy with a hoarder-room" to someone who enjoys living with less

• Why time is often the most powerful tool when it comes to releasing emotional items

• How relationships, identity, and childhood experiences shape the way we hold on to stuff

• What to do when your partner's things trigger you (and vice versa)

• The surprising emotional layers behind trophies, t-shirts, rugs, and wedding keepsakes

• How decluttering actually makes many people more sentimental, not less

• Why a "good enough" home (not a perfect one) builds peace and connection

Key Takeaways

• The memories don't live in the items. They live in you—and letting go cannot erase them.

• Sentimental clutter is deeply personal. What looks like "junk" to someone else may represent years of meaning you can't see on the surface.

• Your partner's pace matters. Slow, patient progress creates lasting change—pressure doesn't.

• Time does emotional heavy lifting. What once felt impossible to part with may someday feel neutral.

• Seasons of life shift what belongs in your home. Hobbies evolve, kids grow, needs change—and your home should adapt too.

• Letting go often creates more presence. You notice the life happening now, not just the life that already happened.

• A home that's "good enough" supports you far better than a home striving for perfection.

Quotable Moment

"When you get rid of stuff, it doesn't make you less sentimental—it makes you more sentimental in the moments that actually matter."

— Andrew Wells

The Most Powerful Stories From This Episode 🧡 Andrew's 5K T-shirts

How a duffel bag of old race shirts turned into a lesson on fatherhood, memories, and what we really hold on to. And how two vintage Bulls shirts ended up becoming treasured keepsakes for our boys.

🧡 The Moroccan Rug

A story about backpacking, freedom, and why a rug bought at 22 taught Andrew more about letting go at 42 than he ever expected.

🧡 Our Wedding Time Capsule

What happened when we finally opened our handmade wedding box—14 years late—and why a moment of discomfort led to one of the clearest reminders of what matters most.

🧡 Parenting, Airsoft, and the "Junk" in the Garage

Why the piles of pallets and gear that once felt like clutter now feel like connection, community, and exactly the kind of childhood we want our boys to remember.

Join Clutter Cure Club

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Interested in Working with Me 1:1? Join the Inner Circle Waitlist

If you're thinking, "I know what to do, I just can't seem to follow through," or clutter keeps coming back no matter how much you reset—this is your next step. The Inner Circle opens once a year, and waitlisters get first access.

Applications open mid-December. 👉 Join the waitlist (https://www.katyjoywells.com/innercircle)

Coming Up Next Week

Don't miss our next episode, where I share more holiday-season support, simple home resets, and practical encouragement to help you stay grounded and peaceful in a full season.

Ready, Set, Simplify! 💛