The KonMarie method

iQueen

oceanspirit wrote: »

Good morning all.

I am starting to feel a shift within me, although quite what I don't know yet. All I know is that I feel different.

My home is still very much a mess - now that I have pulled out the paperwork for the tax return, that is lying around on the sofa and the mess in my office is still there however now I know that I can file away things properly as I find them, I feel so much better. And it is lovely opening the filing drawers and seeing space rather than them being so crammed full nothing could be put away.

Today's task is to tidy the kitchen as it has been sadly neglected this week and there is a stack of washing up to do.
I will then have a go at catching up with some day to day admin so that doesn't fall too far behind.

Plan for the weekend is to tackle one of the piles of paper in the office. Looking forward to it very much - can't wait for the first one to go!

As you continue with kondoing, I'm sure you will start getting LB moments of your own - as you recognise what has made you feel different and how it fits into your life. The change is obvoiusly something important to your present and future happiness.

Don't worry about the mess (my home is still mainly a tip!) :rotfl: The clear areas will increase and eventually join up!

Although we feel driven to kondo without interruption, I have found that it helps to keep up with general maintenance, as much as possible too - bit like plate-spinning! Not helpful kondoing incessantly, while chaos takes over behind our backs! :eek:

It feels really good kondoing, and allows us to fully focus, if we know that, although the dust's getting thicker, there's something to eat and clean plates! :rotfl:

Good luck with the maintenance today!

choose_wisely wrote: »

I disposed of a large teddy this week.

took out the stuffing which i first thought i could reuse. However, it was tiny bits of foam mixed with small polystyrene beads and so much static that i ended up covered in it.

Lots of other stuff gone including 3 computers, so i must be getting better.

Ha ha! That'll larn yer! Shame you didn't post a picture! :rotfl:

I have several unneeded duvets that are cluttering the spare bedroom, which I plan (!) to use for making cushions, post-kondo! I'm going to vacuum pack them till then, but I may just lose patience and kondo them anyway!

oceanspirit wrote: »

Thank you to everyone who has been sharing their insights and how their lives have changed during/post Kondo. It helps to keep me going, knowing that I am going to feel so much better once it is done.

iQueen, I love reading about your lightbulbs moments so please keep sharing them.

OK, just stopped for a bacon sandwich brunch, so here's my 'Woo For The Day'!

I was listening to a programme discussing immigration recently and it got me thinking which, with me, is like Googling something specific and finding myself distracted by miles, hours later!

So what has immigration got to do with kondoing? Here's the thought process.

Asylum Seekers - most people think they are OK, on humanitarian grounds.

Economic migrants? Hmmm.

Human beings are animals. Animals make the best they can of their lives. Wilderbeeste risk drowning in rivers, by migrating to more abundant food sources. We migrate for better housing, jobs, schools, shopping, social/cultural facilities, rural beauty, warmer weather, higher salaries, etc.

Kondoing? We see it as something that will make our lives easier and/or more comfortable. In the process, we start to think more deeply and clearly about what we want from life.

Initially, well before kondo, most people set their priorities in life - possibly based on guess-work, advertising, role-models, life-history, or experience. These priorities are chosen, according to what we think will ultimately bring us happiness.

In many cases, consciously or unconsciously, religious or not, we live with the promise of 'heaven' at the end of a hard life, rather than aiming for a happy life.

Kondoing teaches us that some things were mistakes, taking up room in lives, which don't bring us happiness. We also learn that more of some things, start to make us less happy.

Basically, as animals living in a safe, affluent environment, we are greedy: we fill our lives so full of Stuff, physical and mental, that we leave ourselves no time or energy to consider what really makes for happiness. Even those of us who believe that less is more, are 'greedy' - for this liberation!

I'm going back in, now!

Susan1962

I also had a LB moment but didn't realise it at the time. While I've been focussing on Kondo work, other things have taken a back seat, including my hair's need for root colouring every 3 weeks. I've basically left it untouched for about two months. Yes, there are grey hairs but not as many as I thought and thanks to a lack of hair dye, the condition of the hair coming in is much better. So - I've Kondoed my hair dye. Two stockpiled boxes to go to the CS and a smile on my face - I finally feel like a grown up (which isn't bad at 53 LOL)

On a more "normal" Kondo note, I've filled another huge CS bag, shredded three letters as soon as I'd finished reading them and got rid of two blouses which I love but which just don't fit right. Even on a workday, this Kondoing is starting to build momentum!

mrs-moneypenny

In the end two teddys went to school with me today, one was sitting in the chair in our bedroom, couldn't If I'm honest remember if it was Dh or the kids that got me it he was a cute little bear but will bring a little person more joy than it did me, big bear went on his merry way and has been told he will be star prize on the teddy tombola.
Just got round to putting codes in off cereal boxes to claim free seeds for DD2s partners children so boxes have been recycled.

drusilla

I mentioned earlier this week that I have restarted wearing my jewellery and makeup. I had kondoed my jewels but then realised I wasn't wearing them even though they brought me joy. So in an effort to test the 'joy theory' further I have tried some with different outfits.

Result- I have found some that I really like, some that I like but get in the way when in the office ( necklaces, desks and a capacious bosom don't work well) and one necklace that doesn't feel right around the neck. They will all stay until I can find a longer chain for the pendant for the last - or it can go to someone else so they can enjoy it. It is really attractive - a lovely glass pendant.

When discussing the pendant with a friend at work, I had to smile to myself. I said that it wasn't working for me and I might need to pass it on so that someone else could enjoy it. She said it looked good but then said about the passing it on. 'Yes you might because that is where you are in your journey.' Methinks I have been talking Kondo a bit too much.:eek:

I have also had lots of compliments on my 'new' look.:D

mrs-moneypenny

Drusilla (sorry auto correct Tampered with your name!) I'm glad you are enjoying your jewellery again and are receiving compliments because you are letting it give you joy as you decide what suits and what doesn't.
I wore my £2 dress from the carboot to work today and kept getting told how nice it looked/I looked in it. No one could believe that I paid so little for it. While doing the ironing yesterday, I put the dress that didn't bring me joy as well as a pair of trousers and a top in the Cs bag for the same reason. They are perfectly nice but just not me any more. So they can go to someone else.

Did anyone see the beautiful wedding dress in today's paper, it had been donated to a Cs in Leeds with a note pinned to it saying that the gentleman who donated it wishes the new wearer was as happy in her marriage as he had been and that she looked as beautiful in it as his bride had. I'm guessing there is a sad reason why it was donated and the story brought a lump to my throat but it was so lovely that he had passed the dress on with such a lovely thought. Any bride wearing that will know her day is blessed if she gets half the love and happiness it's hinted that couple shared.

Lara

I found the Charity I have donated to in the past. They had on their website a list of items they wanted. Beds and mattress was top of the list. I phoned them, was asked if the fire label was still on the mattress, replied yes. They asked if the mattress had any staining and I said no but the bed did have four drawers underneath and one of the drawers had a tea or coffee stain on a small part of it. I have tried to get it out but it hasn't budged. Man on other end said he wasn't sure they would take it and would I agree to it being "dumped" at a cost to me, which I said no I won't have it dumped because it's in good condition apart from this stain. He said they'd come round in a couple of weeks and might take it. I also said I would give them a king size duvet to go with it. I didn't expect fireworks but they could have sounded more joyful. I did ask if they would come round and look instead of waiting nearly two weeks as if they won't take it I'll pass onto somewhere else but they don't do that. I'm now not too keen on donating to them. Someone out there would have a lot of joy sleeping in a good bed instead of on the floor. I wouldn't give a dirty bed to anyone, that feels me with dread.

I might give the food bank people a call if I can find their number locally. Thank you for that suggestion. I do need it to go quickly as I have family members arriving from abroad soon and the bed is laying on top of the other bed in the other spare room. I need to kondo that room ready to impress !

june89

I wore a shirt that does bring me joy to look at today and remembered why I never wear it. So it's edging towards the Kondo pile although I do still love the fabric so considering cutting it up to make it into something. Maybe some lavender bags for my lovely drawers so I can see it every time I open them.

mrs-moneypenny

Lara I find it sad that some charities (and some people in general) get snooty on others behalfs. Charities get very picky what they do or don't take then in some charities shops they sell the donated things for very inflated prices.
That's why I give to a smallish local charity shop rather than to one of the big nationwide ones, they a always very grateful and offer the donated items at a realistic price so they are more likely to get rid of them quickly.
I hope you find someone who wants the bed Lara as you say there are people out there who would really aprechiate it.

bossymoo

Hi all,
Lurker here.
Wondered how any of you had dealt with young childrens belongings on your journeys? Including toys?
My kiddies are not always keen to let stuff go...
Thanks!

YORKSHIRELASS

Morning everyone

I havent done much proper Kondoing this week, just not had the time, but its a wet Saturday so I am hoping I can crack on with more paperwork. Good post IQueen. When you start to think about it there are so many ways this relates to other areas of life.

And cuddly toys. When my boy was 2 I was buying Xmas pressies in Woolworths and some things were on 3 for 2 - I needed to choose a 3rd. I bought this enormous cuddly dog, wrapped it up and gave it to my son. That Christmas it was all he was interested in, never mind all the other expensive presents! He carried it everywhere for months.

He is 16 now and the dog has survived many clear outs. Last Sunday when we did the car boot sale he said "I think its time to see if someone else wants this". We didnt sell it but with my sons agreement it went to the charity shop.

In my mind I can see my little blond haired boy toddling about with the dog under his arm and I really hope there is another little one out there who will enjoy it. If not, well it has served its purpose and created a happy memory for me.

And I agree about Ebay too - just not worth the hassle unless you have got something really special to sell.