Over the past few years, although I love my house and the beings in it, I have had this shadow hanging over me about the stuff in our house, how much there is, where it is, how it is organized and stored. Full disclosure, BK (before kids) I was a self aware compulsive neatnik which, of course, I had to let go with pregnancy bedrest and resulting children. My favorite saying used to be "A place for everything and everything in its place"-Benjamin Franklin. This shadowy burden got a little lift after we attended a dinner party at our German neighbors house (not our current German neighbors, the family before). There house was decorated lovely but was sparse and clutter free. In particular, their counters were so spacious and free of STUFF. This probably was partly due to their planned few year stint here such that they did not have all their possessions but also they kept it looking this way after several years in the US. After this dinner party, I ran around our house taking everything off our counters and ledges (stuffing it in drawers and cabinets) and declaring we needed to live a more German counter clutter free clean lifestyle. My family shook their heads and waited for it to pass.
With the new found free time for a few of us and desire to address our households that our previous roles would not allow, we decided to collectively read this book (as recommended to me by a swim team mom) and see if it would change our lives. We are on Chapter 3 of 5 and have started making great dents in our stuff, organization and I would dare say we changed our perspective on managing our household stuff going forward. My husband has shaken his head at this project, laughed and hummed this little ditty. Click to here the song. ..Turning Japanese Wildly popular song of our high school years (remember I'm 50, y'all).
From our reading, we have learned a lot but here are some highlights:
- A tidy room, not only can be cleaner and fresher but if only filled with things that bring you joy, you will be more joyful.
- If done properly, tidying will be a special event, not a daily chore.
- Before one can tidy, you must discard first. "Take each item in one's hand and ask: "Does this spark joy?" For the hard to discard items but ones that do not bring you joy, thank the item for the joy it brought you in the past and let it go!
- Proceed with as categories recommended.
- Learning about methods to fold, organize, store belongings that are not only tidy but functionally better.
Our Petunia is leading the pack, just like she does on the runs with Zelda and I following on her heels. I share below some of the before and after photos from all of us. I wince as I show you my socks even after because I later learned that folding my socks this way is unkind to my socks.
Here's a few comments from our weekly virtual book club meetings and other dialogue.
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"I've officially caught the bug. It does feel freeing to give away so much stuff. After tidying my closet my spouse said I gave away too much because I have less than him. Lol. After tackling the pantry he said we needed to go buy some stuff! I think he needs to read the book simultaneously or this may be an uphill battle in my house."
- "I will say the down side to doing all of this is that my tolerance for clutter has significantly decreased."
- "My spouse said, when I asked him to pull out all his socks, that he needed all his socks. However, I begged for just a review with all socks out on the counter. I explained the exact process for review. Later that day, he gave me a pile of over 10 pairs. The next day, I found a pile of shirts that no longer brought him joy. Making progress!"
We have only just begun. I would never have gotten this far without the encouragement and accountability of sole sisters.
Here's to more JOY,
Sadie
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