Category: Worth Remembering

Came across an article on downsizing and tidying up that I want to remember for the future. It’s the wisdom of Marie Kondo author of a widely popular book called The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.

“Keep only the things that speak to your heart. Then take the plunge and discard all the rest,” she advises. “When you put your house in order, you put your affairs and your past in order, too. As a result, you can see quite clearly what you need in life and what you don’t.”

Kondo offers a specific gauge by which people can decide what to bring with them to their next phase of life: “Does it spark joy?” is the question that should be asked of all items, from clothes to books to electronics and sentimental items. This is altogether a different yardstick than the more common, “Have you used the item in the past year?” which is likely to prompt rationalizations such as, “No, but I will need it again if I ever have a fondue party/lose weight/write that book I’ve been planning since college.”

I like this. If I could manage to follow it – it would leave only simple beauty in my living space . . . it’s a  given though that camping gear would be exempted.