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Saturday, April 11, 2015

I Fail at the Kondo Method. Everything Sparks Joy.

The title says it all. While the internet is filled with tales (and videos) recounting everyone's success with the Marie Kondo method of decluttering, I have been a failure. You are supposed to discard anything that doesn't spark joy.

While going through my tiny closets and pulling things out, I find that almost everything is sparking joy. Some things would spark joy in a lot of people. My weak spots involve fabric--pretty fabrics (no matter how small a piece--and no, I do not sew), cashmere sweaters, Italian sheets, linen dish towels.

I am also made joyful by bedraggled versions of the above. I LOVE the Eileen Fisher long alpaca vest that I rescued from an ignominious end at Goodwill. I wear it all the time at home. Ditto for the linen comforter cover with holes. Ditto for the frayed linen dish towels. I could go on.

If I donate these things back to the thrift shops, they will be tossed in the garbage can. Really. They get too much immaculate stuff. They have no room for the shabby. It gets put out by accident and if a worker or customer  spots a hole, into the garbage the item will go.

As I declutter at a snail's pace, I am filling a bag with things in good shape. My holey alpaca vest is safe with me. (And think of all the time and labor involved in producing that vest!)

Maybe I need to read that Kondo book again. I'm #12 on the list at the library.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am #48 on my library list. I wonder if it will motivate me to declutter or if I will resist!

Shelley said...

I've not attempted to read this book yet, though I expect I'll get around to it. The quote about throwing away all paper work made me wonder about this woman, though I do gather a lot of it is tongue in cheek. All the things you listed as bringing you joy sound just fine to me! I love my old linens more than anything brand new. Fabric scraps, check. Old cashmere sweaters, of course! I do keep a charity bag at the ready and make regular trips to donate anything surplus that might be useful to others. I try not to purchase anything I'm not prepared to make a commitment to keeping. I'm pretty certain that when I'm gone most of it will go to landfill, though I will do my best to see it is offered first to crafting friends; books to libraries, etc. The clothes I have in the loft are anywhere up to 30 years old and tend to be made from fabrics I never see in thrifts or department stores any more. I'm convinced that old stuff is of far higher quality than what we are offered now. I'm not sure if people even recognise quality these days.

Gam Kau said...

Not bedraggled - wabi sabi! I, too, appreciate worn things. Not for me the perfection of new.
Funny, I don't sew either, but also love fabrics and have a stash of fabrics for which I have no purpose other than to admire.

tess said...

I'm on the library waiting list too. Don't foresee that it will change my save it up outlook. I saw a youtube video of the lady leading a purge of a family's apartment that ended with my feeling panicky. In the end their place was as bare bones as the set of the Honeymooners. Also it seemed that the contents were destined for the dumpster rather than charity. Made my skin crawl.
At the same time I realize that it would be nice to have more free space to strech out in our lovingly cluttereed abode.

Terra Trevor said...

I felt the same way, then it hit me that I don't want to "keep" everything (forever) that sparks joy. So then I gathered up lots of old favors, remembered the good times we had, I didn't really thank my things, but I thanked the universe, and then I released the stuff, especially excess stuff from my home office. My wardrobe is fairly minimal, but the things I had saved and collected in my office was shocking. Filled the recycle bin and a few trash bags, and had lots to take to the thrift store.