the life changing magic of tidying up : marie kondo
It seems as though everyone that I know (and every blogger that I read) has read, or is reading, this book. I ordered it shortly after moving into my apartment, after I'd already done so much decluttering & organizing during the move. I knew that it might be a little out-there, but I'm often a little out-there, so…
what I loved: "Keep only those things that speak to your heart. Then take the plunge and discard all the rest. By doing this, you can reset your life and embark on a new lifestyle." I certainly started this process during the move. I was ruthless with what was recycled/discarded (as evidenced by my receipts to Goodwill, Recycle North, and the Got Junk? guys). The author suggests making decisions based on the question "does this spark joy?"…a measurement that has been particularly helpful in editing down to a capsule wardrobe. The section of the book about dealing with mementos & gifts definitely resonated. She talks about "processing the past" while sorting through these items. This concept sparked some ideas about how to capture the stories of many of the papers & knick-knacks that I've carried around in a rubbermaid tub for years – b/c it's the story that sparks joy, not the physical object.
what I left: Some of the more "strict" suggestions simply didn't inspire. Empty my handbag every night? No thanks. I've read many reviews of this book that react strongly to specific instructions in the book. I easily left those aside – the author writes from a culture & practice that is simply different than my own. Yes, thanking your belongings is a little out-there, but so what? No harm done…
Amazon: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing
6 Comments
Tracy
Glad you enjoyed it! I am following the intent, without the rules myself. 🙂
Kathy
Would love to know what you did with all the mags you were published in!? I’m thisclose to getting rid of them.
Katrina Simeck
Awesome. I’m listening to The Fringe Hours right now – have you read that?
Katrina Simeck
I grappled with that when I moved…and decided that for now, they still bring me joy. So, I’ve kept them. Although, I did edit down to 1 copy of each, and donated the rest. As some point, I may scan “my” pages/articles/covers for an album or photo book. Or I might just keep it all for now. I did go through all of my layouts before the move & edited down – I didn’t keep anything that I had done SOLELY for an assignment.
Kathy
That’s pretty much where I’m at too!! Feels like a lifetime ago but I still love going through them on occasion. Your new life sounds amazing – well deserved!!
mary
Love the new photo! I went through a similar process recently. Kept the front cover and my article from each publication and discarded the rest. And although it does not “speak to my heart” in any good way, I kept my vacuum cleaner. 🙂