We started a journey a few weeks ago to declutter our house. We both had read "The life-changing magic of tidying up" by Marie Kondo. It did not take a book to make me understand how clutter affects your life. Through the years,when we have been very busy and the house became cluttered and disorganized I would find myself get antsy. I am not a neat freak, but disarray for me, creates
an anxious sort of energy.
It is truly amazing how much stuff lives in our house...and I clean my closets every six months.
The interesting thing about Marie Kondo's book was her theory about letting go of stuff...if you don't love it, if it doesn't bring joy...time to let it go.
The house is beginning to feel lighter, that same sort of energy I feel each spring when we clean all the windows. Releasing things you don't love, that do not bring you joy is much easier than the thought process of will I use this, do I need this. So far, the process has been painless.
As I have talked to friends about this tidying up, I have found that many of them ( and they have not read the book) are doing the same thing. Maybe it is that stage in our lives when we understand, finally, we don't need all the stuff. Actually, I can remember my mom doing this a few years before she died.
We are about half way through the list, books and pictures and personal items will be next.
We will see how that goes. I think it might be a little more difficult, we shall see.
I hope your weekend has been a good one. Wishing you peace tomorrow, a day of rest and one of joy.
Saturday, February 20, 2016
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I learned after my MIL downsized and then passed that it is better to have the decisions made about 'stuff' before and not after.
ReplyDeleteWhen my Dad became less able I downsized (with his cooperation and sibling input) his home into a small suite and later into a private room. The siblings together with Dad decided where the furniture and things would be shared out and who would do the work each time. This was not easy, not simple and I will say that I was so grateful that I could mourn Dad's passing knowing that everything he left behind went to someone he loved and that loved him. The siblings DID do their part in this lengthy process and that made things way less stressful. I would have liked to had more of Dad's things given to the Grandchildren and I am still trying to find things (from the siblings) that they may want to give to their children, from Dad.
Hugs.
Joy
It so much easier when two are working at decluttering together... I like how you put it, if it doesn't bring you joy, it's time to let it go. I think that we hold on to gifts that were given to us that we don't even like but out of fear to hurt the donor. One of the thing we hold on to are things that we think might come in handy but we usually forget about it.
ReplyDeleteI have a lot of clutter too.
Hugs,
JB
My problem is that most everything I have brings me joy, especially kitchen gadgetry. :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on this. I just read about her and found her theory pretty right on. I think she says you should thank the items also...something like that! We've began a few weeks ago and started in our basement. We had things that were left from Jack's parents after they died that ended up with us...wow, it's really great to say thanks and good-bye to all of that "stuff". I'm pretending that we're moving and deciding what I would actually want to take. I'm finding out that it's not much! The hardest thing will be going through all my pictures of kids and family and vacations from the last 42yrs...I'm saving that job for last! Good luck with your purging!
ReplyDeleteMy problem is that I have a lifetime of things that bring me joy. How do I choose?
ReplyDelete