Does it Spark Me Joy?

The life-changing magic of tidying up - by marie Kondo (book review)

I finally finished by first book of the year! WOOHOOO.

I picked up this book because I am in the process of moving which also means it is time to get rid of things, tidy-up!

Marie Kondo does stellar job explaining how to let go of things and re-organize your home. For me, my room is “my home” and it’s so important to me that it is a place where I can decompress from the outside world. I’ve come to learn that I become emotionally attached to items, but the real question is “Does it spark me joy, now?”

I always had the tendency to keep items from an event that took place in my life to jog my memory or remind me of that significant time in my life. It also brought me happiness and was a form of bond I had or a relationship I developed that associated with these items. They were small knick-knacks (e.g. key chains, action figures, ornaments) and of course, over time they become a collection. Eventually they are sitting there collecting dust and taking up space. Some are college textbooks— at this point, they are outdated and serve no purpose but shelf space. Because I took such great care of my books, it is in too great of a condition for me to get rid of yet I had no desire to open this book ever again — also, I don’t even like Accounting!

Growing up, I didn’t have a lot — I come from a big family and among-st the siblings, I was constantly having to share my space and my things with a room with FOUR GIRLS. Fast forward >> to present day — I have my own room and more free-will to store things at my own discretion. AND YES, I went HAMMMM. I was constantly thinking of things/furniture to FILL my room and the more stuff I collected, my mind got even more creative and started to focus on buying things to “re-organize” the my items = MORE CLUTTER. Essentially, I was re-organizing the unnecessary clutter instead of disposing the things that I no longer needed.

As I took a step further back, I come to realize that I AM a sentimental person and having certain objects and attachment to these “things” did SPARK JOY in my life as it allows me to relive it. I had to realize that even though it did bring me joy, it was in my past. I have to make room for the present, new memories. Of course, that doesn’t mean that I automatically purge all those memories because I’m letting go of certain items but learning to keep a few things and discard the rest (discarding the confetti I picked up at the Arianna Grande concert — i already had a sweater, fanny pack and photos from that night!)

“Less things, more living”