The KonMarie method

PollyWollyDoodle

cpt574 wrote: »

hopeful Think in some categories I just weed out the tatty or definitely not liked and quite a bit is kept automatically. I really need to actually hold and evaluate everything, quite a few things are slipping past me:)

I think this is absolutely key - I keep finding I've slipped back to my old way of decluttering - asking myself if there's a good reason to throw it out rather than whether there's a good reason to keep it. I'm going to need to revisit a few categories I think! The 'does it spark joy' question is crucial.

drusilla

Success at this end. A pile of bricks has been collected by a freecycler. He even took the old bird bath that was no longer wanted. Apparently his missus wants one.

Have cleared the weeds and tidied where the pile was. Will do some more weeding of the garden to get it to a tidy standard.

The bricks absence makes me feel so happy. They were a blot on the landscape. IYKWIM.

iQueen

mavvymoo wrote: »

iQueen Thank you for your kind words I hope Mum does think that

I'm certain she thinks that! We, Mums, want our children to be truly happy.

At the time I did this I have a nagging feeling some so called 'Friends' Thought I should have kept everthing I was left and I was selfish and they could never sell any of it if they were in my postion.

Who's Life is it? Yours! You know that you have done the right thing every time you see your joyful necklace, that your Mum has 'given' you.

They did make me doubt myself and also knowing some of that money should have been spent on bills to clear some debt.I know Mum would never had minded me paying bills with it but I really couldnt spend one penny of that money on anything else.

I have never regreted it for one second.I cleared my debt without using any of the money and knew I would.Spent every penny on something I love and remember my Mum every single time I look in the mirror.

So a win win result for me Ha, ha! Love it! :T


Mav x

Mav, you, and the OP, made me re-think about jewellery that I have inherited, and that never sees daylight.

I'm a historian, so that has influenced some of the things that I have kept. I shall have to re-think that, because with technology moving on so fast, it may not always be accessible in the future - think tapes and CDs! Hmm.

YORKSHIRELASS wrote: »

Hi all

Today was planned as a day off so I have been out with DS. I woke up in a panic last night dreaming about Auntie and her tea set!!! I had all these thoughts about what if I am doing the wrong thing getting rid of all this stuff? What if I regret it? Its weird because up until now I have been very determined.

Part of the MK process is learning to trust our instincts. If in doubt, leave it for a while. Consider why you are feeling guilty, or may do. Would your Auntie want you to hold on to it all, just because you are expecting me (and all my children!) to drop in for tea? :rotfl:

I am struggling with the guilt. I feel guilty giving away/selling things that were given to me. I feel guilty that I wasted money on things that I never wear or use. I know MK says to just let it go but I am not finding it easy!

I'm sure when I read the rest of the catch-up posts on here, others will have made it clear why we should be grateful for the happiness at the time, but that doesn't mean we have to burden ourselves forever with gifts, or sunk money.

Anyhow, I must keep going. This is going to be a slow week as the kids are off and I have a lot of work to do. I have plans to do a car boot sale on the 7th June so I am praying for fine weather.

YORKSHIRE, I'm busy doing a general kondo today, gathering stuff together for a Jumble Sale on the 6 June! Quite exciting, because I don't have to stick to categories! I can just be Ruthless! :rotfl:

PollyWollyDoodle wrote: »

Knowledge is never wasted, and that's what you have gained from buying these things - you won't waste money in future. The cost isn't at the point now, when you dispose of them, it was 'sunk' when you bought them - so as MK says, thank them for teaching you what you really want in life and set yourself free of them.

Clutterfree thank you so much for your post about the watch. I've got three old watches in the jewellery box, one of which was my mum's. I don't wear a watch, haven't done for years and I'm never going to wear any of these. Lightbulb moment - I doubt they have any value but I may lump them in with my 'scrap' gold.

When I'm 'stuck' on decisions like these, I try to imagine my nieces (I don't have children) going through my stuff in 30 years' time. Would I want them to hang on to things because they were mine? Heck no - I'd want them to get rid of it all and get on with their lives. I'm sure my mum would have felt the same.

Polly, This got me thinking.

When we only have things that bring us joy in our homes, that may make the final clearing a less traumatic experience for our relatives. Also, if they inherit anything, they will know that it was really loved. Perhaps we should add that into our Wills, and also state that nothing should be kept that doesn't bring our heirs joy?

iQueen

mavvymoo wrote: »

Went to a bootsale yesterday and decided these bring me no joy at all anymore I have moved on.:rotfl:
Walked round a break neck speed and looked at rows and rows of other peoples komono and carp:rotfl:
If everyone decides to join us in our mission with kondoing I think it would be the end for bootsales.

So brought me round to thinking its a good job not everyone lives the way we do So was happy to see other people buy things off the stall holders and wondered how many were in the process of Kondoing their homes and how many were going to take the unsold items to a CS on the way home.

As for me I did buy something off an old man who I got chatting too and spent about 10 mins deep in conversation which did bring me joy. He was there to raise money to help with his wifes carehome top up fees:mad: He was 81 years old

This stall was the only one I stopped at so was this MK at work ? Strange really but I hope I brightened his day slightly and made him forgot just for a few miniutes his worries.

I wanted to just give him a donation which I know he wouldnt take so I picked up a bag and gave him £5 and said I didnt want the change back.
Did the bag spark joy when I got home no but the man did so did I go against the rules of MK ? I dont think so I looked at the bag and thought about the story behind it thanked it and put in the donation bag which will go to a CS.
BUT anything else which I Kondo will go back to the bootsale next week to the gentleman raising funds for his wifes care

It feels like I am really being drawn to different people and my lifes path is changing for the better.

Thank you so much MK so glad I met your book and all the other posters and lurkers on here I feel I am turning a corner and am well on my way

Mav x

Editing to say I am sure this is as I have more time to speak to people as maybe before MK I would have been rushing to find that next bargain pretty shallow when you think about it and there is really more to life

A lovely, thought-provoking story of your boot-sale trip! :A

I think you had a head start on many of us here and you are certainly ahead of me, with my 'woo' journey! I'm glad you are feeling happy with the changes you are experiencing.

Not only do we have more time, with a clear home, to do joyful things, but we have more time to think about the important things in Life.

iQueen

Dustykitten wrote: »

Morning all

Thank you all for sharing and being so inspirational, for fear of being slushy this really is a journey in so many ways.

I'm off to the shower to kondo another sachet of somthing onto my hair. All those I'd kept for holidays are in the bathroom being used by myself and DS3, only a few left now and I love finishing each one off and popping the packet in the bin; so easily pleased am I.

Dusty, nothing wrong with 'slushy' or 'woo'! It is probably a natural extension of becoming more aware of not only our important possessions, but Life in general!

Hope you found a joyful sachet!

iQueen

Clutterfree wrote: »

Mavvy, what a wonderful thing to do for that old man. :T
It is disgraceful that is how our country treats our elderly.
I hope he takes your komono and it helps him in his life.

The really sad thing is that people of my generation and above were born before the Welfare State and we were promised that we would be looked after from "cradle to grave", when we needed it.

Not only that, but our generation have only recently finished paying off the country's debts from WWI and II.

gallygirl

norfolkdream wrote: »

Question!
Am about to start my clothes - 2 wardrobes, a chest of drawers and the piles of clothes next to my bed (clean laundry not put away, kids clothes grown out of)
My question is, it seems so big a job and I will put it all out on my bed, but what if I dont finish, I will have nowhere to sleep haha.
I know I just need to start but it just seems such a mountain to climb, did anyone feel overwhelmed to start in the first place?

I would say start with the kids - that should be easy if they don't fit anymore :rotfl:. Then your summer clothes - ask yourself if they will bring you joy in the next few months . Go through all drawers and wardrobes and only pull out the category you are doing at present.

mavvymoo

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.


Thought I would share this as I had the overwelming feeling I had to read this today. Now I understand why ! Blame Marie Kondo if it stops you Kondoing for a while.

Mav x

june89

DH keeps commenting on how much more he likes his room with less stuff in it. He even started clearing his stuff out the airing cupboard (no tank in there since we have a combi, so it's all storage) so we nearly have one free shelf now. Think I will move the suitcases in there. They're on top of the (freestanding) wardrobe so not in the way, but visually clutter the bedroom a bit. I am half tempted to Kondo them completely as they're rarely used, but they do rather oddly spark joy because I love packing.

I also Kondoed a house purchase today. We were all set to send in our offer in the morning as the house we viewed the other day ticked the most boxes of any so far, but I walked past it this morning and it didn't really spark anything. It would just be a place to live. Where I'm sitting here listening to birds singing and watching squirrels play in the trees at the back of our garden. We're not in a hurry to move as it's just part of a long term plan to own rather than rent, so I'm going to wait until I get at least as much joy from a new house as I do from this one.

iQueen

Mav, Woo! OMG!

I have been thinking of this poem a lot recently!

I think it should be the Mission Statement for our Kult!