Marie Kondo: The Storm Before the Calm

Marie Kondo is taking the world by storm and in the process my house looks as though a tornado has blown through. While each of her Netflix episodes of “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo” are neatly wrapped up in forty-five minutes, it’s been forty-five days and I’m still mid way to ‘sparking joy’ in my life.

The soft-spoken Marie makes it all look so easy and fun. And yes, some of it is easy and even a tad fun. Marie’s process is as follows: if an item sparks joy you keep it and if it doesn’t you thank it for serving you well and get rid of it. I started in my master bath. Lawd have mercy. Who knew a master bathroom could accumulate so much stuff? However, it was a breeze throwing things out and making a donate pile. I realized I was not attached to the contents in my master bathroom.

The KonMari Method

Next was my closet. I sifted through what could only be described as a fabric jungle. An overabundance of items that still had tags still on them, shoes I had barely worn and were ill-fitting, a variety of sizes from different times and moods, some tattered and torn, well worn and had seen better days and the realization that most of these things I knew I’d never wear again. It was then that I finally grasped and embraced Marie’s concept of sparking joy or letting go. 6 large garbage bags and a giant box of donations later, I felt lighter and more joyful.

My closet was now void of clutter (and a large majority of my clothes) as I kept only what sparked joy. The Marie Kondo (KonMari method) also gave me some insight into my shopping habits and myself. I learned I’m an impulse shopper who can’t pass up a great deal. I also learned that the older I get the less attached I am to things and the more I am drawn to experiences.

I moved on to my bedroom and it was a breeze after my closet safari.  Everything is now wanted, adored and in its place.  The living room was simple. It’s always been a clutter-free zone.

The challenge remains

My office, which appears to be tidy at a glance, has drawer upon drawer of tech gadgets, electrical cords, piles of papers, and rogue receipts. The dining room has two china cabinets, loaded to the gills with plates, silverware, crystal and other belongings that I couldn’t pass up and use maybe once a year at best. The kitchen is a minefield of blenders, bakeware, slow-cookers, Zoodlers, and other life enhancing appliances. An abundance of cabinets makes the perfect breeding ground for clutter and chaos. Then there’s the teen’s room. We’ve got that on the schedule for the first week in February (Marie insists you get your family involved) to see if we can ‘spark some joy’ there. And then, there’s the garage that has been the catch-all for four generations of family ‘things.’

As I work my way through years of possessions, many that bubble buried memories to the surface, I realize that I can lighten the load and the burden that disorder brings with it. I literally and figuratively can see, now. While this method may not be for the faint of heart (or those looking for a quick fix) it’s working for me as I make room for more joy in my life.