The KonMarie method

Minimise-to-Maximise

Day 9 ongoing book kondo - we had already had a good clear out a year or so ago but still have 100s of books in the house. Really want to get rid of a huge and ugly storage unit so a big incentive to be ruthless with the masses of books and paperwork it currently holds.

9 books

selement

I did notice in the book she talks about clearing hundreds of books... We have one bookcase that mainly has manga we are likely to keep. I don't feel one bookcase of books is excessive clutter... Anyone else not decluttering many books? We haven't got there yet just can't see us losing many

mavvymoo

mrs-moneypenny wrote: »

I know hillside, lovely worthwhile cause. Dd2 and her family always visit there when we are on holiday and their children adopt an animal each

I knew you would know it Thats who's charity event I am doing on Saturday:D

It is a great cause and I am glad your Dd2 adopts from there

I hope I can supply a few bales of hay this year maybe your Dds animals will benefit

Mav x

mrs-moneypenny

Selement. It's not about clearing everything it's about letting go of what doesn't bring you joy, some people will be left with more than others and be happy and joyful there. Others will be happy with much less and more space.
We've got lots of books still left, I know Dh won't get rid of any excercise/reference books as he is always referring to them. He has lots. We have loads of child's books as five children grew up in the house, they can take the ones they want when they are ready. I'm letting books go as I read them if they are one reads some I will keep.
Don't feel you have to let go of more than you are comfortable with, that is going to end in failure as much as keeping things that don't bring joy will. Hth.

Mavvy hope the charity day goes really well and you raise lots.

I feel like the shoemakers elf I'm sitting cutting out 32 little pairs of felt stockings, if I have enough time and felt I may do two classes and the teachers.

greent

selement wrote: »

I did notice in the book she talks about clearing hundreds of books... We have one bookcase that mainly has manga we are likely to keep. I don't feel one bookcase of books is excessive clutter... Anyone else not decluttering many books? We haven't got there yet just can't see us losing many

If they bring you joy it doesn't matter whether you keep 10, 100 or 1000 books - it's the 'joy sparking' bit which is important, which will be different for everyone. I found it easy to get rid of some books, but my cookery books are another matter - I think I got rid of 2. I love the rest. I don't even necessarily use them all, true - but they still bring joy


x

PollyWollyDoodle

Another one here who still has lots of books, I love them - I did get rid of a few that no longer sparked joy, or which represented the person I aspired to be once, rather than who I am now. Everything I have left is something I know I'll read again one day or which I use for reference. I know others on here who have almost no books in the house - that's the beauty of this method, it's all about you and your choices.

iQueen

WoW! Thanks to a carp leg that (feels like it's 'dying in storage'), I have been able to catch up with everyone's posts.

Of course, I found it really interesting reading about the reasons for saving/storing/hoarding, as I'm regularly delving into my past, in an effort to understand myself and Life in general.

Well done, to all of you who, have discovered some shafts of light, and those, who have survived traumatic events. :A

We all come through life with baggage: some know it, some discover it, some don't realise it, and some refuse to even consider the possibility.

Having done a lot of self-analysing, I can see that excess Stuff, (deliberately collected, over-bought, or just accumulated), usually has deeper reasons than simple deprivation, etc.

Having read Mav's story, I know that one of my reasons, is that I like beautiful things, and another is connected to my perception of abandonment and the fear of loss - people or things, that I value. These are due to events, throughout life, from a very early age, with a common connection. And GQ's Mum's story shows how one particular loss can influence the future.

But we also need to remember that our parents, and grandparents. all had their own baggage, before psychology was seriously considered, or known about. Children inherit some of our baggage, even though we are determined to change their up-bringing, in some ways, from our own.

Apart from psychological baggage, today there are other reasons, too, for excess. Materialism, consumerism, disposable income, marketing, comparative life-styles, keeping-up with family, friends, colleagues and neighbours, being 'good' parents, a culture of 'rewarding' ourselves, etc, all persuade us to acquire, indiscriminately, in quantities.

Kondoing properly, teaches us to discriminate, which is why, as we progress, some of us keep returning to one or more categories. It really does help to understand our personal 'whys?', when we get stuck on a category.

I had to stop and think about the OP's DH and books. I already had discovered that I kept most of my library, because it shows visitors that I am intelligent, educated and erudite! But, I realised today, that I also 'had to own them'. Why? Because, in spite of having a sister, I was a lonely child. I read voraciously, several books a week... from the public library. Books were my friends. (I still have a couple of books that never went back to libraries, many years ago!)

One thing is still bothering me, mrs-moneypenny... your drive! You've mention Stuff 'on the drive' and 'under the drive'. I can't visualise this! Do you live in a stately home, with a swathe of drive, and an underground mews of former stables? :rotfl:

Live the Joy, Konverts! :dance:

mavvymoo

Very True iTwin. I think I have turned a corner with the clothes thingy thank goodness As I have a voucher for E*ay and just cant spend it :rotfl:I dont need or want anything just some boot shapers to keep my boots from falling over :mad: and thats it cant use magazines like some people do as I havent got any

I have kondoed another big bag of 'stuff' to the charity lady Including a spare dog (bed) big puffy cushion thingy how many dog beds does my one dog need.Sorted bangles bracelets etc again and loads more gone
Chicken T-light holders and a pair of Purple Sheep dont even ask


Feeling good and I am NOT buying it whatever it is I do not need or want it


Mav x

greent

iQueen wrote: »

We all come through life with baggage: some know it, some discover it, some don't realise it, and some refuse to even consider the possibility.


<snipped>

But we also need to remember that our parents, and grandparents. all had their own baggage, before psychology was seriously considered, or known about. Children inherit some of our baggage, even though we are determined to change their up-bringing, in some ways, from our own.

Very true . As Philip Larkin said.....


“They f**k you up, your mum and dad.
They may not mean to, but they do.
They fill you with the faults they had
And add some extra, just for you.

But they were f**ked up in their turn
By fools in old-style hats and coats,
Who half the time were soppy-stern
And half at one another's throats.

Man hands on misery to man.
It deepens like a coastal shelf.
Get out as early as you can,
And don't have any kids yourself.”


As I get older, I realise just how true the first lines of this can be. I have already apologised to my teenagers for this

jinny

Difficult people can become our greatest teachers
Remember a pearl cannot form without an irritant
I read that once and liked it

I kondoed a sofa and coffee table today
I m getting my sil's old one
She is the type that changes furniture a lot
So I'm getting her old one well not quite it's about 15month old.
I'm not proud, I'll take it thanks very much
I guess that's ok because I'm getting rid like for like

Have a great evening all;)