The title of this post is also the title of a book I read last week (www.tidyingup.com -- available in print and ebook) that has completely changed my views on how to purge our house of excess everything. (Thanks to my friend Kim Swetz for suggesting it to me!) It's written by Marie Kondo, a professional organizer and cleaning consultant in Japan, and it's a must read for everyone, no matter where you fall on the spectrum of accumulation of clutter. Pack rats all the way down to the most spartan among us can all benefit from this book.
Kondo's basic premise is that anything that doesn't elicit in you a feeling of joy should be given away or thrown out. So that shirt that's just OK, but doesn't thrill you? Out it goes no matter how practical. The dress that never makes you feel really pretty no matter how suitable it is for so many occasions? Give it away. It might not work for you, but in giving it away, you give someone else the chance to find joy in it.
Does this sound a little too vague for you? Well, it's a lot less vague than you'd think. Kondo recommends starting with clothes (which I did) and I made one pass at my closet last Wednesday. Given that I had purged a fair amount out of it about a month ago, I was pretty amazed at what I was willing to part with. On Thursday, I went through it again and found a few more items to donate, and on Saturday, found a few more yet. By the time I went through the two closets where I have clothes (on-season and off-season), as well as all my drawers and shoe racks, I had almost 2 full contractor bags full of clothes and accessories to donate. And those who know me and have seen my house and closets would NEVER for a second call me a pack-rat, clothes horse, or an overly-consumptive person.
I also followed Kondo's suggestions for folding my shirts and socks and not only are my drawers so much better organized, but I was able to fit all the shirts that used to occupy two drawers into one (and that's not because I purged so much -- it's really just about the folding and organizing method).
I kept going -- first the linen closets. Neither overflowing by any means, all of them already neat and tidy- but at least 1/3 of what was there had to go!
Next, the kitchen. I entertain a lot so I have lots of serving pieces that I really use. But thinking about the biggest party I've ever thrown in our house, even then I didn't use all 12 platters that I had in my cabinets. 6 of them were donated to my favorite local thrift shop. Alone with excess pyrex, the margarita glasses I got for our wedding that I've only used twice, and about a dozen mugs that were making my cupboards almost burst at the seems.
Then it was Dave's turn -- he filled up an entire contractor bag to donate, and by the time I was done with the first pass at the girls' rooms (they need another pass at least!), over the course of 4 days, we filled up 4 contractors bags, 2 shopping bags and 1 large box of donations, and one contractors bag of garbage (the craft cupboard alone probably accounted for half of it!)
I'm not done -- I still have our home office, basement, and a few other rooms to do. And really, I need to spend more time in the girls' rooms. And when I'm done, I may go over everything once more to see what more I can purge.
It feels FANTASTIC!!!!! I can't even begin to tell you how great it is to walk into the large closet that I share with Dave. Already, it gives me a feeling of serenity because I can see at a glance everything we have. Same for the kitchen (though I still have more to do there -- what am I ever going to do with all the little ceramic figurines that the girlies have painted over the last few years???). I don't have to unload lots of heavy bowls and platters just to get at the one that I need for dinner any longer.
But best of all, it's motivated me to think really critically about pretty much every aspect of my life, both personal and professional -- what is either the literal or figurative clutter in my life that's keeping me from seeing things more clearly? From experiencing life more clearly?
You know the endorphin rush that some get from exercise? I get it from purging and organizing . . . I'm feeling so good and positive right now. But I've never really thought of applying those principles to the non-stuff in my life. I don't know where it will lead me, but I'm eager to see where it goes -- will be sure to share my thoughts, experiences and insights as I proceed.
I really can't recommend this book to ALL of you enough -- it's so liberating!
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