This month’s Collaboreads link up was all about non-fiction. I just need to go ahead and admit that I am not really a fan of nonfiction books. At all. It doesn’t matter how interesting the subject matter or how captivating the story, I can’t ever quite make it from cover to cover. I like stories and make believe and escape and non-fiction almost always falls outside of those lines for me. Fortunately, a friend had encouraged me to read this one and since I had an extra Audible credit last month, I decided to download and listen to it instead. I’m not sure I would have finished it if it hadn’t been for the audio version, but I’m so glad that I did.If you have lived on planet earth in the last year, I’m sure you’ve heard about this book or seen its cover floating around the internet. I avoided it for a really long time (mostly because I love my stuff), but when my closets were overflowing I decided it was time to bite the bullet.
Marie Kondo is a professional organizer and self-professed obsessive purger. She has spent the better part of her life learning to find a home for and subsequently get rid of most of her belongings. There is a part of me that thinks this is incredibly sad, but another part that was equally intrigued. She suggests that there is a correct manner in which to purge and a specific order which makes it easier on you (both mentally and physically): clothing, books, papers and other/miscellaneous. Kondo’s claim to fame is that once you complete her KonMari method, you will never relapse or fall victim to a cluttered home again.
There was a LOT of practical advice in this book that I might should have been following all along. She gives wonderful tips on how to hang and fold your clothes, in what order to store things and how to keep from accumulating things you don’t need. I’ll admit that I have a lot less guilt about getting rid of things after finishing her book, even sentimental items and gifts that once gave me great anxiety! The thing I couldn’t quite wrap my mind around was the spiritual and mental connection to items. She suggests you speak with each item as you part with it, to thank items for a job well done and to greet your home upon arrival each day. I was completely confused by the notion of emptying my purse and putting each item “away” every afternoon, knowing I would need those exact same items in less than twelve hours time. If you can ignore all of the ‘mumbo-jumbo’ sprinkled about, I think Kondo offers some really good advice and practical solutions for getting your home in order.
I need to admit that I haven’t fully embraced her methods in our current situation. We are hoping to move in the near future and there are things that we might not fully appreciate now that will come in handy or bring all sorts of joy in our new home. I don’t have the expendable budget to throw everything away that doesn’t bring me joy (a major tenant of the KonMari method), so I’m hoping to follow her methodology as we pack and unpack the next time around — specifically when it comes to paper and sentimental items.
I did KM every closet in our home and we took bags and bags to donate several weeks ago. I parted with things I wouldn’t dream of wearing and I ended up with a huge sack of clothes for the dry cleaner. I organized my jewelry and accessories in a more logical manner and I actually think I have more wardrobe options now than I did when I had more items. Even the girls helped me sort through their drawers and we were able to discover exactly what their favorite pieces are.
Perhaps one of the most surprising changes I made related to this book was in regards to social media. Around the same time I finished listening to this book, I joined in a Periscope chat with Rachel Nordgren about Instagram. She was gathering data for a blog post and wanted to hear thoughts from other social media users. Her basic premise was that we “follow” too many people and that we are flooding our mind and our eyes and our hearts with things that don’t benefit us in any positive way. She followed up her broadcast with this post and I swear, it changed my life. I’m not advocating the abandonment of social media or even encouraging you to unfollow all of the people, but her post got at the heart of why we follow and how we shouldn’t be offended when people decide they don’t want our faces in their feed anymore. I had a serious talk with myself about Instagram and what it is I love about it and what frustrates me and I set some parameters for myself about how I would use it. I unfollowed brands and users whose sole purpose was to sell me something or to encourage me to spend money. I unfollowed people who don’t regularly post or engage with me in any way (or I with them — this was a major two way street). I unfollowed people that I wasn’t even interested in, but somehow enjoyed “hate reading” and complaining about everything they had to say. I basically unfollowed everyone who wasn’t lifting me up or encouraging me or pointing me to Jesus and let me tell you that it has been reaping all sorts of rewards. I need you to know that the problem doesn’t lie in the people I choose not to follow, the problem was in me. I was comparing myself or questioning myself or spending unnecessary amounts of money. Removing their photos from my feed doesn’t say anything about them or what they have to say, but it eliminated a whole lot of stress and anxiety about something that is supposed to be for fun. I also realize that people may look at the contrast in numbers of people I am following and those who are following me and see that as a huge hypocrisy. I can’t speak for everyone and you might can follow 2000 different accounts and never have a twinge of jealousy or regret, but I needed a little more space in my heart. I’m also convinced that I need to be more thoughtful about the things that I share with people following me. What am I saying? Is it necessary to share? Will it offend someone or cause them to question my faith or integrity? These are huge questions with eternal implications.
I know that was a little heavy and maybe you think its completely unrelated to this book or this link-up, but it was all happening in my life around the same time and I couldn’t help but think I was “KonMari-ing” my Instagram by removing everything that didn’t bring me joy! I highly recommend the book, even if you are the tidiest person in the whole world. There is no way you read it and walk away without at least one little nugget of truth that rocks your world.
Be sure to head on over to visit Amber and Rachel today. They always have B E A U T I F U L things to say on Collaboreads link-up day and there will be lots of other bloggers linking up to share what they’ve been reading this month. Join me back here tomorrow for a Holiday Home Tour (eeeek – I can’t wait to share!) and on Wednesday for a little holiday tutorial. I have really enjoyed more frequent blogging in the last few months and now that my lazy mornings provide a little more time, I’m able to do it without burning the midnight oil. Three cheers for blogging!
