A short clip appeared in my Facebook newsfeed, and I watched with fascination. When I heard Marie Kondo speaking in Japanese, and not in English I groaned at my American/English centric thinking – shame on me. No worries, videos have voice-over English translation and/or subtitles.
I was captured watching her fold, smooth, part in thirds, and stand clothes upright, these movements honored each piece and were purposeful, they showed care and consideration. I organized my socks and shirts. My drawers have been transformed. They are neat, in order and spacious looking and while there is room for more, having less is central in decluttering the KonMari way.
As MS Kondo suggests, look at your possessions and ask do they spark joy? Joy is not only about feelings, there are rules to finding joy in the KonMari Method™, rules I unknowingly broke. The Tidying Six guide her approach. First, commit to the process – just do it. Second, imagine your best life – what would it hold? Third, finish the process – no quitting. Fourth, tidy by category, not room or space – there is order in decluttering. Fifth follow the order of the categories, start with clothes, then books, papers, miscellaneous items and finally sentimental things. And lastly, ask again and again, do they spark joy?
I asked, and my garage is filled with items that did not: a single serving coffee maker, a ceramic steamer, brandy snifters, a hot air popcorn popper, assorted wine glasses, and clothes are in boxes. I smile now at what remains, I smile at things I love – things that spark joy.
Sorting through clothing has been challenging. Remember, this is where you begin the KonMari Method™. While quite out of order, I made decisions about dresses, well worn, never worn, some with tags still on them and asked the joyful question. Feelings were much more involved as I considered fit, the look, and an occasion. Up and down the stairs I ran to the bedroom with the big mirror to make deliberations. Some items although they fit, did nothing for me, the color was not right, or my curves were not accentuated in ways that worked. Other pieces were ill-fitting, the sleeves or waist were too short, or I looked boxy. As I sorted, joy also came from anticipating the happiness of someone else with my former treasures.
I have encouraged my son, who wears the same ten shirts and pants to consider the KonMari Method™. He has a closet full of t-shirts, celebrating bands, restaurants, and the New England teams: Red Sox, Bruins, Celtics and of course the six-time Super Bowl Champions, the Patriots! I have not yet convinced him of the need or benefit, and joy is not a word he would use to describe his feelings, particularly about something such a non-issue.
Going Kondo as I like to say has applications at the office too. Do all those emails you have archived serve in any way? You know, the ones you saved to CYA, or just in case you needed to make that point again, or remind the team of discussion previously had. Do you remember the last time you looked in the archived files? Do you also have hard file clutter? File folder after file folder standing filled, guarding documents long ago used and perhaps forgotten entombed in a container for gathering said files. I took the KonMari Method™to work and emptied a file cabinet. If I did not know how the document would serve me, I tossed it. If it looked like information or material I could access online, I tossed it.
Can we agree that simplifying our lives makes sense? We can live with less. We know how easy it is to collect things, collect for the future, for just in case, because it was grandma’s, because, because. Things tied to memories of loved ones are harder to part with, and perhaps that is why in the KonMari Method™, the sentimental items are the last to consider. But the journey and process of measuring joy as connected to our needs and wants are necessary, as is the struggle to figure out the difference between the two. Joy may be the key to taking measure. Accept the challenge – liberate yourself.
Thank you Marie Kondo, for your sensibilities and wisdom – I am better for it. I am filled with joy and you will be too.
Nobody Asked Lara 