You know how obsessed everyone was with Marie Kondo for a while, especially after her Netflix show dropped? We all got it into our heads that we were going to buckle down, clear out all of our accumulated junk, and feel more relaxed and free because of it.
Did you actually manage to do any of that? I sure didn’t.
Oh, I’ve purged a few closets in the last year, but that’s been more about coming to terms with the fact that I’ll never be a Size 8 again than any sort of KonMari, joy-sparking exercise.
Really, I think a lot of people balk at the whole “spark joy” thing in general.
Like, how does a spatula spark joy? Unless you are really into cooking as a hobby, it doesn’t, but we also sort of need a spatula or two to feed ourselves efficiently. In fact, the tools for everyday living aren’t even included in her system.
We all just have this habit of jumping to the most extreme conclusions, especially when faced with a daunting task.
We think, “Well, clearly Marie Kondo’s system is completely bogus, because I may need those cans of leftover paint in the garage when my kids scribble on the living room walls.”
Meanwhile, the clothing rod in our closet is bending under the strain of clothes that don’t even fit us anymore.
Nothing can happen in moderation. It’s all or nothing.
However, I’ve finally learned after years of battling back clutter, an all-or-nothing attitude is silly. Unless things have gotten dire, most of us don’t need to go full-on KonMari on our homes. Just focusing on our most troublesome areas is usually enough to make a big difference.
The other key is to simply do our best to not buy things we don’t need, which is sometimes the harder part.
Oh, and for the record, she never said you should only have 10 books. She said that she only has about 10 books. If they spark joy in you, then by all means.
Last Updated on August 15, 2020 by Amy Pilkington