By Cheryl Maguire
“Does this bring me joy?” I pondered.
Holding an apple spice candle, I took a whiff from its surface.
The fragrance must have faded after being stored in the attic for 15 years, I mused. It certainly isn’t igniting any joy.
Into the overflowing trash pile it went.
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo had graced bestseller lists for 86 weeks by the time I stumbled upon it. This discovery sparked a month-long decluttering spree throughout my home, where I cleared out every drawer, closet, and bin—yielding eleven bags for donation and ten for the trash.
While I consider myself a ‘neat freak,’ any book I might write on ‘how to clean’ would likely end up in the discount section. My three children often find my obsession with tidiness exasperating. During mealtimes, I meticulously wipe up crumbs. Toys, clothes, and sports gear are carefully stored in labeled bins, and if they neglect to put their things away, they face my displeasure.
Initially, I couldn’t grasp how a book on such a mundane subject could achieve such popularity. However, as I immersed myself in Kondo’s writing, I found it more gripping than the psychological thrillers that normally capture my attention. The deeper I read, the more the central concept emerged: prompting readers to reevaluate their relationships with their possessions.
Kondo notes, “Putting things away creates the illusion that the clutter problem has been solved.” Despite my possessions being neatly organized, I seldom got rid of any items. I had fallen into the trap of believing I lived a clutter-free existence.
“You will never use spare buttons,” Kondo states.
She was correct—I’ve never sewn a button onto a shirt, so why was there a collection of buttons gathering dust in my drawer? I could no longer overlook the clutter.
“If you see an (electrical or cable) cord and wonder what on earth it’s for, chances are you’ll never use it again,” she points out.
Upon examining my bag of unidentified cords, it dawned on me that none had been used since I first gathered them.
This book encouraged me to reflect on how I obtained each item and why I chose to keep it. I realized I often retained things due to a fear of future need or feelings of guilt over unused items.
It was time to embark on the first step in Kondo’s method: “start by discarding all at once, intensely and completely.”
The discarding process, according to Kondo, should orient around “what we want to retain, not what we wish to dispose of.” She advises picking up each item and asking yourself, “Does this spark joy?”
Initially, this question struck me as absurd, but I decided to give it a shot regardless of my skepticism.
“If you only keep items that bring you joy, you’ll surround yourself with things that uplift you,” Kondo asserts. Such a reorganization of your belongings can lead to profound changes in your life and outlook.
For me, the greatest transformation occurred through letting go of unused items and unworn clothing. Kondo calls this “the magic of tidying.”
She suggests expressing gratitude: “Thank you for teaching me what doesn’t suit me.” This simple shift in mindset enabled me to part with an unworn red shirt still boasting its tags, placing it in the donation pile.
Kondo claims that once you finish tidying, “You can clearly see what you need in your life and what you don’t, and what actions you should or shouldn’t take.”
She also mentions that the process boosts your confidence, as it involves making choices about what to keep. It compels you to reevaluate decisions that led to your current possessions and hopefully learn from any missteps.
Upon completing my tidying, I felt a surge of accomplishment. Every time I opened a drawer and found a pen free of extraneous buttons, I took pride in my newfound ability to eliminate the unnecessary. This experience also transformed my life. While cleaning, I rediscovered a book I had penned in fourth grade, where my teacher had typed it up and crafted a cover using a typewriter and cloth. It reignited my passion for writing which I had explored intermittently over the years.
Having ‘cleaned house,’ I made the decision to pursue freelance writing seriously, resulting in publications in outlets such as The New York Times, Parents Magazine, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Upworthy, Twins Magazine, Rodrigosaffiliates, and more.
Being a stay-at-home mom can feel isolating, but writing has opened doors to connect with others.
As Kondo suggests, I organized my space in a way that catalyzed lasting change in my life.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Cheryl Maguire holds a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, National Geographic, Washington Post, Parents Magazine, AARP, Healthline, Your Teen Magazine, Rodrigosaffiliates Magazine, and several other outlets.
