“When we really dive into the reasons for why we cannot let something go, there are only two: an attachment to the past or a fear for the future.”
A few months ago, I started The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo. Several people had recommended it to me and said it had truly changed their lives. I was intrigued. "Kondo, Japan's expert declutterer, will help you organize your rooms once and for all. The key to successful tidying is tackling your home in the correct order, keeping only what you really love, and doing it all at once."
I read about 50 pages before I started on my journey (not recommended). But the moment I started reading it, I felt such relief, like I was finally getting permission to get rid of all my stuff. I have had too many things for as long as I can remember. Living half of my life on the East Coast and the other half on the West meant I had two wardrobes, two rooms, two lives, which allowed for a lot of accumulation. So after I got 50 pages in, I invited over some friends and went through my closet. We filled 6 garbage bags up with shoes and clothes and organized my drawers and closets. I felt like I could breathe again.
But since I didn't finish the book, or continue it after my start, I am back to a messy room and life. Just as Kondo predicted! Thus, I have started her book again with the intention of doing it properly this time. I am now at the part where it gives you the task to visualize the life you want to live. Visualize your future space. Visualize what you will be able to do once you no longer live in clutter. As much as I love physical mood boards and collages, I do not have a printer right now, so I will be creating my mood board on this post.
I recommend checking out the book if you think you could commit to a massive cleaning. And you should! Getting rid of clutter is something we could all use. As Kondo says, "When you room is clean and uncluttered, you have no choice but to examine your inner state."
