Today is my 60th birthday.
It seems fitting that I’m moving into the next stage of my life by KonMari-ing my entire house, thanks to Netflix’s Tidying Up with Marie Kondo.
In case you have a perfectly organized house and haven’t heard of her (Really? Really?), Marie Kondo is the guru behind The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, the bestselling book that’s as pint-sized and adorable as the author herself.
I read the book when it first came out and admit I rolled my eyes at her method. You’re supposed to hold each item you own to see if it sparks joy and, if it doesn’t, thank it for its service before tossing it. Now, I am all about that whole woo woo thing but, come on, this seemed a bit over the top. But, because it was such a pretty little book, I kept it and placed it somewhere among my 1000+ other books, where I haven’t seen it in years.
Because the Universe works in mysterious ways, though, Netflix released Tidying Up with Marie Kondo the day before I was getting on an 11-hour flight. Based on the book, the series follows the master folder as she goes to regular people’s homes to help them transform their houses – and their lives. I downloaded all eight episodes, and something totally unexpected happened.
I fell in love with the coo-ing Kondo and her quirky yet surprisingly meaningful ways.
Somehow it was no longer amusing that she got down on her knees to introduce herself to a house before she got started. Instead, it felt respectful and humble and, yes, moving.
The KonMari Method is all about cleaning out your possessions one category at a time in this specific order: clothes, books, papers, komono (miscellaneous items), mementos (sentimental items). How can you not love a system that has one category for everything from paper clips to electronics to craft items and then one category devoted solely to books?! (Oh, and by the way, Marie, I love you but I’m not touching my books, all of which spark joy just by being themselves.)
By the time I finished binge-watching the entire series, I was itching to get home and get started. I was so motivated, I cleaned out my bag on the plane because the gum wrappers and wadded up tissues were definitely not sparking joy and all the papers mushed together near my cell phone and Kindle could have sparked a fire.
Literally the day after we got home, I took all my clothes out of the closets and drawers and out of all the other random places where I had stuffed them, and made a mountain on my bed. Obviously, I was not the only one so inspired as Twitter was filled with photos of clothing piles hashtagged #KonMari.
Going through my clothes was pretty easy, and I ended up with four big bags to donate. But, as I packed up my discards, I was hit with a stunning revelation: the clothes I was throwing out – the ones that didn’t spark joy – were the ones I wore all the time. The clothes I love – the ones that make me happy to see hanging in my closet – were the ones that didn’t really fit anymore.
Hmm.
I thought back to the last time I had cleaned out my closet, remembering that the same clothes that were still hanging there now were the ones that had made the cut then, too.
Why was I buying clothes that I wore to death but didn’t care about enough to keep?
The answer was so simple yet so disheartening.
It was my body that was no longer sparking joy for me.
This was a real “aha” moment.
Although traveling and writing are huge joy sparkers for me, they’ve obviously taken their toll. The pounds have added on, the muscles have sagged, the shape has disappeared.
My body is taking up too much room.
So, it’s time to KonMari the shit out of it. I will fold it gently but firmly through sit-ups and lunges and squats until it fits into its designated space without excess spilling over. I will treat it with love and gratitude. I will hold on to the reasons it once sparked joy – until it actually does again.
The real challenge, of course, is that donuts, Chipotle and large tubs of popcorn also spark joy for me, and I don’t want to have to choose between them and the big (but hopefully shrinking) picture. But sometimes I will, and sometimes they will win.
That’s okay because even Marie admits that she’s not always perfect and sometimes her own house is messy. (Ha ha ha! I don’t believe that for a second and am convinced she’s just saying it to make the rest of us feel less inadequate but, hey, it works.)
I can now understand the method behind the KonMari madness. Looking at all your stuff in one place gives you perspective and offers valuable insight that goes way deeper than the items themselves.
By summer, I vow to have trimmed down my body as well as my belongings.
The idea of that – and visualizing myself in one of the cute little Kondo-like cardigans and skirts I’ve owned but haven’t been able to wear for years – already sparks joy.
Just keep your hands off my books.
Delightful post, and I like your perspective on balance -sometimes the donuts will win and other times the exercise.
I think you are right-on with the clothes vs. body spark. I am going to give that some thought and develop my own plan of action. Hugs, C.
Love this perspective. So insightful.
I’m trying to deal with my clutter and the part that belonged to my late mother in law. Have a long way to go. I had rolled my eyes at Marie Kondo but your observation about clothes was an eye opener. Hmmm…
Happy Birthday to the girl who is 4 weeks older than me but still teaches me new ways of looking at life without even knowing it.
Four feet of flood water and moving/downsizing cleaned out our closets. Onto the dangling gravity-pulling jiggly fat that needs to disappear! Yikes.
Love you my sparkly girlfriend. Great post. Happy 60th! ??
Thanks for sharing your perspective. I have a lot of cute clothes that are tailored, but I live in my baggie clothes! All my best to you as you work on fitness. I went the other way and recently donated clothes that require me to lose 10% or more of my weight. Maybe that was the wrong decision.
No wrong decisions! Now you’ll have an excuse to go shopping!
Happy Birthday! We’re decluttering too, but I think it’s a personality thing. I am way too much of a rebel to be that anal! Good luck with your project.
Trust me, I’m shocked that this is working for me although I’m definitely making my own little rebellious interpretations 🙂
Happy Birthday and I always enjoy your posts
Thank you so much!
Happy Birthday Ultimate Friend!!! I have not heard of Marie Kondo until I just read your post!!! I am getting on Netflix as soon as I am done typing and saving her show to my list!!!!! I also just turned 60 (December 23rd) and can say “ditto” to almost everything you said (no on the donuts and books-insert wine and potato chips, and projects that I have never started) !!!
Happy birthday to you, too! Can’t wait to hear what you think of the show, and enjoy your wine and potato chips!
Great post Lois and I love your attitude about tidying up the body! Happy Birthday you you!
Great blog post! Loved the book and now want to watch the tv series!
Happy birthday! I celebrate that same milestone this Spring. You’ve inspired me to watch the series as I seriously need to declutter; especially my closets.
P.S. I’ve been eating a ketogenic diet for seven months and highly recommend.
Love this post!! It really says exactly how I feel too!!
The New Year is always a good time to clean out and purge! Thanks for the inspiration of the Marie Condo Way. I have lost some weight and instead of getting rid of the too baggy I demoted them to play/garden clothes. Now I have more play/garden clothes than acceptable clothes so I must be ruthless and thank them and think of the next person who will enjoy them!
Happy 60th! I’ve wanted to watch Marie Kondo’s seroes. Now you’ve given me a reason. I cleaned out when I moved 8 years ago but think it’s time to do it again.
This really cracked me up, between the nodding, eye rolling, and relating to so many of your points covered!! I hang on to far too much, but the pounds ARE beginning to shed and maybe I’ll get to that closet project (after I finish taking down all my holiday decor…). Happy Birthday, and may this year bring success in your pursuits of health and less stuff!!
Happy Birthday, Lois! I hadn’t heard of the book, the series or (needless to say) the author before seeing your post. But by the looks of my closet, and you know I have cleaned it once before given I wrote about it for your blog…um…seven (or was it eight?) years ago! Yikes. I digress. Anyway, by the looks of it I have a lot of joy seeking to do in there! Who knows, perhaps a blog post is folded into the countless shorts I don’t wear! Love that you are inspired and can’t wait to see you adorn that kondo-cardigan/skirt ensemble. xoxo
I saw this show on Netflix the other day and thought it looked interesting. May need to check it out once I get home from vacation!
Happy birthday! I wish you the best of luck in getting healthy – I was in the same place as you a year and a half ago and said “Basta!” did low carb and lost 40 pounds. The best advice a doctor gave me before starting the new lifestyle was to have cheat days. If you deny yourself all kinds of stuff then you want it more, cheat days will help you have the Chipotle and popcorn!
I really have to do this now……Since I retired I’m only wearing about 1/4 of my clothes! I need to get motivated and I need to get to tossing out stuff. Donating it makes it easier….
I truly had no idea about this until I read your blog. That’s so interesting, I can think of a bunch of things sitting around me that don’t spark joy yet here they sit. Just don’t touch my books, either!
Happy Birthday!!!(belated)
Very interesting revelation! A friend of mine recently spoke about doing this. I have to do this! I tried cleaning out my “closet” before 2018 closed, but I don’t think I made a dent. A big reason is probably because all my clothes weren’t stored in one place 🙁
I need to watch this! It’s the first thing that pops up in my Netflix (as it is for everyone else as well). I’ve been avoiding it because I kind of think the whole “sparking joy” thing is a bit ridiculous. Maybe if I see it in action it will change my mind.
Any advice on how to get my husband to tidy up?
Ha ha! Let him watch the show. The husbands seem to be onboard!
I’ve heard of the method, but admit that I don’t know much about it. I’ll have to watch the Netflix series soon. And I am with you, lay off my books!
Happy birthday, Lois! This piece is both delightful and insightful.
Happy Birthday! I want to watch this series when I have time. Although, if i’m getting rid of things that do not bring me joy, I’d probably need to start with the broom and the vacuum, and that sadly would not make my house any cleaner.
Happy 60th birthday! I’ll be there myself in just a few months. I actually just heard about the show and plan to binge-watch soon. Sorting and tossing has been high on my priority list (as time allows) for a few years. I keep a donation bag open all the time and take it away when it’s full. I’ve made a little progress, but not nearly enough! I love her method, although I’m worried I have too many things that bring me joy… which is why I need to sort and toss!
Oh I wish you luck with this, Lois! I am also trying to “downsize” my extra lbs in the new year, and made major headway on downsizing my wardrobe (though the results were a little more like your 5-years-ago wardrobe-downsizing post) on Jan 2! Here’s to wardrobes and bodies that fit in the new year!
Hey Happy Birthday to you. I loved reading this and your take on being 60. Yep im on a diet too…I need to fit back in my clothes lol xx
Happy birthday to you. I’ve seen the previews of this show on netflix, thought haven’t watched it yet.
Happy Birthday!! I love your witty perspective on balance, it’s so true. I’ve seen like two episodes of this season, it’s crazy. I want to get more organized, but I just don’t know if it would stick if I did her way. My 4 kids are all too young to help out with many th things lol.
I own her book, but I never could get more than 2 chapters in. still haven’t seen her Netflix series, but im not sure if I want to at this point. I can already condense all my belongings into one bedroom of a house lol, its the kids toys and manly tools that need sorting and tossing lol
Happy Birthday Lois and thank you for this great post! I always enjoy what you write — and Netflix, here I come.
Happy birthday Lois! I hope you had a great birthday. Tidying Up with Marie Kondo is really popular. I hear about her everywhere. I also plan to be more organized. You can find everything so easy and makes you feel more comfortable.
Happy belated birthday! Maybe this is something I need to check out – I’m hopeless at getting rid of things lol!
Happy birthday! What a unique way to celebrate 🙂 I like her idea of “sparks joy” but I really don’t want to part with my books (she apparently says a person can only have 30 books?!). She’s getting a lot of criticism about that from bookworms all over the world who adore their books (like me!).
Happy birthday. Thank you for such a great post. I’m in a “transitional” time in my life. I enjoy the books and the Netflix series I definitely need to check out.
First of all, happy birthday to you. This is a very insightful post. Also, Marie Kondo book is in my reading list.
Great article Lois. I am just starting today with my clothes. I binge watched the Netflix series also which gave me the push to move forward.
You go girl with working on getting in shape. It is more important how you feel not about what you weigh. You have a wonderful spirit and I was glad to meet you and your family.
Hello Lois! Hope you are doing well!
Just checking in…how has the purge been coming along since you posted the article?
I have yet to get going on this. Like you, “By summer, I vow to have trimmed down my body as well as my belongings.” In all actuality, it has to be the end of May for me, as family will be coming over for a graduation. It is a race against time for me as I look at the calendar and realize we are halfway through March! Yikes! Take care!