Umbra, when you moved did you only bring things with you that you loved now or did you bring a lot of mementos from the past with you? If that is personal please forgive me, it is just by going thru my things, I learned that you have to come to terms with the past and the future and concentrate on the now. I don't think i would have done that if i didn't look at everything I have been holding on to.
I was with a girlfriend the other day and we were looking at furniture, i got really ticked at this arrogant salesman and I let him know it... IT was not what she expected from me and she was taken aback. I told her this was the new me. lol My point is the expectations others have of us may have worked in the past, even worked for us, but those behaviours don't fit us any longer. we change we grow we evolve, hang on to your hat.
I am deeply sad to hear about your nephew and your sister.