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Customer story · School of Living Lighter

Overcoming Overwhelming Clutter to Live in the Present with Emotional Lightness

Linda Van Tine · Recorded 3/11/2026

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Share One · March 11, 2026
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Individual results vary. This is one customer's first-hand account of their own experience, recorded on camera and published unedited. It is not medical advice, and nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any condition. Talk to a qualified healthcare professional before making decisions about your health.

Linda Van Tine achieved a life of clarity and presence through the School of Living Lighter. By working with Heather Aardema, Linda moved past overwhelming physical clutter and emotional guilt. She reports feeling significantly lighter, gaining the ability to appreciate her surroundings and live in the present moment through intentional mindset shifts and community support.

At a glance

Primary Use Case
Managing overwhelming physical clutter and emotional weight
Reported Result
Living in the present with a significantly lighter life
Time to Value
Not stated
Heather's response is, how does it make you feel? Does it make you feel light, or does it make you feel heavy?
My life is lighter today after being a participant in the group and getting coached by Heather—so much lighter.
If you are on the fence with working with Heather, put your arms out and jump, and Heather will be on the other side to catch you.

The interview

What was your life like before working with Heather?

It was a whirlwind, actually, and a lot of moving parts. Didn't know where to begin. I was quite overwhelmed in all aspects of my life. Before working with Heather, I wasn't sure where to begin and how to move forward. The physical clutter in the house and papers and where to begin and how to organize everything.

How did Heather help you address the emotional side of decluttering?

When Heather addressed the release of the feeling of guilt, when you are getting rid of something you put a value on and letting you look at things in a different perspective. For example, if I have something in my hand that I like it, it's good, but I don't know if I wanna keep it any longer, but my mother gave it to me. Heather's response is, how does it make you feel? Does it make you feel light, or does it make you feel heavy?

What is unique about Heather's coaching approach?

Heather is just so supportive and so infectious, and she catches every single detail. For example, when I or anyone else is explaining a situation that they're in and Heather would say, stop. Stop right there. Wait. I want to address this. You said it this way. But what if you said it this way? For example, I need to do this, and that's heavy. I get to do this. There's a positive.

What surprised you most about the experience?

What surprised me about working with Heather is her being so genuine and open and willing to share her story and obstacles that she's had. And she's very real. And her enthusiasm really ignited a spark in me saying, hey. I can do this. And her community, the people were all alike and very supportive.

How would you describe your life today after participating in the program?

My life is lighter today after being a participant in the group and getting coached by Heather—so much lighter. I can live in the present. I can go through my house. I appreciate my surroundings.

What would you say to someone who is on the fence about joining?

If you are on the fence with working with Heather, put your arms out and jump, and Heather will be on the other side to catch you. The program itself offers so much. You're always going forward. And she has such amazing resources.

Frequently asked

How do I deal with the guilt of getting rid of sentimental items?

Linda Van Tine found that Heather Aardema helps reframe this by asking if an item makes you feel 'light' or 'heavy.' This perspective shift allows participants to release the guilt associated with items given by others, like family members.

Is the School of Living Lighter community supportive?

Yes, Linda describes the community as a safe, inclusive, and genuine environment where members are 'all alike' and help one another through shared obstacles.

What is Heather Aardema's coaching style like?

Linda notes that Heather is infectious, authentic, and catches every detail, often stopping to help participants reframe their language from 'I need to' to 'I get to' to create a positive outlook.

Full transcript

Speaker 0: It was a whirlwind, actually, and a lot of moving parts. Didn't know where to begin. I was quite overwhelmed in all aspects of my life. Before working with Heather, I wasn't sure where to begin and how to move forward. The physical clutter in the house and papers and where to begin and how to organize everything. When Heather addressed the release of the feeling of guilt, when you are getting rid of something you put a value on and letting you look at things in a different perspective. For example, if I have something in my hand that I like it, it's good, but I don't know if I wanna keep it any longer, but my mother gave it to me. Maybe my mother would be upset that I don't keep this. And Heather's response is, how does it make you feel? Does it make you feel light, or does it make you feel heavy? And that's of every aspect when you're going through, whether it's papers or knickknacks or furniture, a new way of looking at things. Heather is just so supportive and so infectious, and she catches every single detail. For example, when I or anyone else is explaining a situation that they're in and Heather would say, stop. Stop right there. Wait. I want to address this. You said it this way. But what if you said it this way? For example, I need to do this, and that's heavy. I get to do this. There's a positive. So it's the view of looking at people in the community that were really supportive, and it's a safe community. Her personality and her authenticity, she's very genuine, and she's not pretentious. And I felt drawn to her, like I can trust her. We could talk. It was comforting. What surprised me about working with Heather is her being so genuine and open and willing to share her story and obstacles that she's had. And she's very real. And her enthusiasm really ignited a spark in me saying, hey. I can do this. And her community, the people were all alike and very supportive. It's nice to belong to a community that is supportive and inclusive and where we help one another. My life is lighter today after being a participant in the group and getting coached by Heather so much lighter. I can live in the present. I can go through my house. I appreciate my surroundings. If you are on the fence with working with Heather, put your arms out and jump, and Heather will be on the other side to catch you. The program itself offers so much. You're always going forward. And she has such amazing resources. My name is Linda, and I am living in Scottsdale, Arizona.

About School of Living Lighter

The School of Living Lighter is a lifestyle coaching platform founded by Heather Aardema that helps individuals simplify their lives through minimalism and intentional living. They serve those feeling overwhelmed by physical possessions and negative thoughts, delivering a transformation from a cluttered existence to one of clarity and lightness. Linda's experience highlights how the program uses mindset shifts and a supportive community to help members live in the present.

Industry
Lifestyle Coaching Services

Topics

  • minimalism
  • lifestyle coaching
  • emotional wellness
  • home organization
  • mindset shift
  • community support

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How this story was recorded

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Nothing beyond a phone or laptop with a camera. Share One handles the prompts, recording, editing, transcription, and publishing, which is why stories like Linda Van Tine's about School of Living Lighter sound natural instead of scripted. Try it at share.one.

Recorded and verified with Share One. Published as recorded — unpaid, unscripted, and attributed to a named person.

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