Thank your belongings for a job well done before parting with them.

space for love

The new year is a time for transition, letting go of that which no longer serves us, and making space for the new. If you’re like us, we sometimes need a bit of help to create a space where we surround ourselves with things and people that really bring joy and abundance in our lives – a space for love.

That is where a bit of Japanese magic comes in. Enter “The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up – The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing” by Marie Kondo.

There are many clutter clearing and space organizing books out there. This one is special. It comes from Japanese organizing consultant Marie Kondo who includes tactics that are, well, tactical – like her unique origami-esce method of folding your clothes to fit in your dresser – as well as strategies for the mental-emotional challenges of change and letting go.

“Nostalgia is not your friend”

Kondo says it is only after you have discarded that which does not bring you joy, can you begin to organize your home. Try it right now. Think of an object in your house – a piece of artwork, furniture, or the color of your kitchen walls. Aks yourself: how do you feel? Does it bring you joy? Does it weigh you down? Was it a gift? Presents fall into their own category. “The true purpose of a present is to be received. Presents are not ‘things’ but a means for conveying someone’s feelings. When viewed from this perspective, you don’t need to feel guilty for parting with a gift”.

One Kings Lane, a popular online marketplace for luxury home goods, calls Kondo’s book the “decluttering bible”. The top 8 lessons they appreciate include:

Lesson #1: Tackle Categories, Not Rooms

Lesson #2: Respect Your Belongings

Lesson #3: Nostalgia Is Not Your Friend

Lesson #4: Purging Feels SO Good

Lesson #5: Fold, Don’t Hang

Lesson #6: THE Fold!

Lesson #7: Fall in Love with Your Closet

Lesson #8: Rediscover Your Style

# 8 piques our interest – what new insights are in store for us, what new aspect of self discovery could come from respecting our belongings and “THE Fold” (can the way we organize our clothes really create space for joy and love? We hope you take a look yourself, and if you end up applying Kondo’s tactics, please send us a note!