325: One Year After Hurricane Helene: Gratitude, Grief, and the Meaning of Home

What do you do when the place that once held your memories is suddenly gone?

A year ago, I watched floodwaters swallow a familiar corner of Asheville—a neighborhood full of weekend strolls, quiet moments, and memories. In a single day, what felt solid and permanent was swept away.

In this deeply personal episode, I’m finally opening up about Hurricane Helene. What our community faced, how the past 12 months have changed me, and what the storm taught me about gratitude, grief, and what it really means to call a place “home.”

If you’ve ever grieved the loss of a season…
If you’ve ever looked at a cluttered room and felt a surprising wave of emotion…
If you’ve ever asked yourself why certain things feel so hard to let go of…

This one’s for you.

Because decluttering is never just about “stuff.” It’s about memory. Identity. Story.
And sometimes… healing.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why decluttering often stirs up emotion, and why that’s completely normal
• What the storm revealed about the connection between our belongings and our identities
• The surprising truth about grief and gratitude and why they’re not opposites
• How simplicity can be a choice before it’s forced on us
• The moment in Costco that broke me, and what it helped me understand about being human
• Why “things” are never just things and how to know what’s worth keeping

Resources & Mentions:

Join Clutter Cure Club
Want to create a home that feels light, peaceful, and aligned with what truly matters?
Inside CCC, we turn powerful mindset shifts (like today’s episode) into small, doable changes that last.
👉 Join me inside the Clutter Cure Club (https://www.katyjoywells.com/cluttercureclub-page837548)

Join the Ready, Set, Simplify Newsletter
Over 35,000 women read it weekly for clutter-busting tips, tiny mindset shifts, and practical steps to simplify your home and your life.
👉 Sign up here (https://www.katyjoywells.com/simplify)

Come Say Hi on Instagram
Behind-the-scenes and real-life simplicity. @katyjoywells

If this episode resonated with you, forward it to a friend or leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Every share helps more women build lives—and homes—filled with peace and purpose.

Ready, Set, Simplify.