So I read
The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up and what she said about these things made total sense. So much sense, in fact, that I immediately went on a two-week-long rampage through my home, literally touching every single thing. Including all my photographs. Including every file and drawer and hanger and box and piece of clothing and jewelry and office supply. Every kitchen tool and antique piece of glass, EVERYTHING.
And when
I was done there was a huge pile of stuff to donate, four (count 'em, FOUR) huge Burrtec cans full of trash and recycling, several sets of photos that were sent to other sections of family because they were of their relatives and now, in my home, there are actual empty drawers and cupboards. It feels amazing!
I was shocked by much of what I found stored away. Things I've been packing up and traipsing around with me all over the country but that I truly did not need. Here are some of the things that were cluttering up not only my home and my life, but also were cluttering up my psyche:
- Every performance review I had ever had from when I worked in private industry (which ended 20+ years ago)
- Every tax return with supporting receipts since 1985
- At least a two foot high pile of photographs of people and places I don't even know
- At least six banker's boxes worth of paper that hasn't been looked at since it was first 'filed'
- Two dozen books that I wanted to read, but haven't and probably never will (and now won't, because they are gone)
- At least 20 wooden spoons when it is just me here -- probably 2 would suffice (I saved 4) and other similarly overstocked kitchen items
- Two wedding gifts from 1976. One, a butterfly decorative shadow box I gave to a friend of mine who loves butterflies and the other, a glass punch bowl set which was in its original box and has been used a sum total of twice in the last 39 years. Ummm solo cups anyone? The punch bowl got donated. As an aside: WHY have I been packing this up and moving it around for 39 years? (And PS, I've been divorced since 1986 so it wasn't some sentimental attachment.)
The list of excess goes on and on. Too many clothes. Too many dishes. Too much of things I didn't care anything about. And
that, my friends, is the key.
Ms. Kondo's point is that we should only keep the things that bring us joy. And as hokey as that sounds, she is right. We all know what it is like to put on clothes that we just wear versus something that makes us feel absolutely FAB-U-lous. Or to have some object d'art that we just L.O.V.E. Or to feel our heart swell when we are around something truly special.
These are the things with which we should fill our lives. Not just fill them to fill them.
As you start 2016, take a look around and evaluate the things with which you choose to surround yourself. Hold them. Feel them. And ask yourself "Does this bring me joy?" It is my hope they do.
Here is the link for Ms. Kondo's book. It is a quick read: Tidying Magic
