The television, that is...
Netflix has a new series from the Japanese wonder worker, Marie Kondo. I had been avoiding it, as I did her book, because I don't have a problem with my clutter. Would I prefer that it was less dusty? Yes, of course, but I don't have room in my brain to stress about that. Plus, I found the whole 'does it bring you joy' thing a little precious and gimmicky.
So, feeling skeptical, I decided to see what the big fuss was about. There are a handful of episodes and I chose one with an empty nest couple. I didn't start with the first one because it is a family with toddlers and, thankfully, that is not my life!
The couple, I think their last name is Akiyama, have a large house that was full to the brim. My first thought was, 'Yay! I'm not anywhere near that level of stuff!' It made me feel a tiny bit smug. T always complained that I was a hoarder and that is simply not true. I've been in hoarder houses and mine is not one. She just likes to be mean. Plus, she comes from a family who actively support the disposable lifestyle and that is the diametric opposite of me and my family. (We actually use our old things and prefer to not buy more.)
The process was interesting to watch. The wife had a mountain of clothing. A really astounding number of garments. But, she was quite frank about her love of clothes and shopping and yes, most of the clothes brought her joy. Still she did manage to reduce the sheet numbers and what she kept, while still a staggering amount in my eyes, was organized and accessible.
The husband's big thing was baseball cards. He had a stack of boxes that literally went to the ceiling. I thought he would dig in his heels about paring it down, but he was willing to reduce it. Good for him. He pared it way down; the stack is nowhere near the ceiling now!
Then there were the Christmas decorations. Honestly, it was staggering how many things they had. The wife liked to decorate every room in the house at the holiday and I support her right to do so. But, seriously, that was a lot of nutcrackers! I can't remember how many containers of decorations they kept but it still felt like a lot. However, it was considerably less than they had started with, and everything was neatly put away rather than stacked up higgledy-piggledy through the house.
The best thing about the episode, to me, was the spirit of camaraderie that the husband and wife shared. There was a sense of working together; they were on the same side. It wasn't one spouse pushing the other to get rid of things that they love. They looked like they were both invested in the process and they both benefited from it. It was really sweet! I have such a jaded view of marriage and partnership that it surprised me to see two people working in harmony. I felt a little wistful that I will never have that, but it was somehow comforting to know that it exists in the world.
I realize, of course, that the show is highly edited and the tone is set by what the producers leave in and what they take out. But, I didn't get the sense that the couple had underlying animosity over their collections of stuff. I'm going to go ahead and hold that thought, because it 'brings me joy'... lol.
Next, I'm going to watch the episode with the book collectors. If there is a trouble spot for me it is my personal library. I grew up in a house chock full of books and I inherited a lot of them from my parents. I'm a reader, for certain, and I love books. I have been giving some away lately and need to accelerate that process. The 'little free libraries' around me receive a lot of the books that I pass on, but I could do more.
The other really sticky spot for me is sentimental items. I am not up for tackling that at this point in time. That's where the real baggage comes in.
So, tell me, have you watched this series or read the book? Are you someone who holds on to things? Or do you live with someone like that?
7 comments:
I haven't read the book or watched the series because clutter and hanging on to things are not major issues for me. In fact, right now I'm in the process of doing a big cull 'n purge of my excess stuff. I am being ruthless. I've already taken a box and a big bag of stuff to the thrift store and I've really just finished only one room.
I like to travel as lightly as possible through this world.
Debra, I think there must be some genetic switch that is either set to 'clutter' or 'not clutter'. Some of you simply don't struggle with it! Lucky! My biggest issue is sentiment. I find it difficult to part with things that remind me of people I love.
I have not read the book or seen the series. Seriously, I would like to declutter all the options of things to watch on TV. I cannot keep track of all the channels! I miss the days of 13 channels and a dial you had to get up to change. I am dating myself, aren't I ?
As you know, I live with a clutterer. Mostly sentimental things and things we "might use someday". Fortunately I have my own uncluttered spaces to de-stress in and she has been a lot better in allowing me to organize some of the clutter - decorations and tools and such - so that it feels less jumbled now. I think, much like the couple you reference, we have learned to live with each other's idiocracies. There is so much more to care about.
I haven't watched the show or read the book. Clearly, it is a thing as this is the fourth or fifth mention I have heard or read in the last couple of days.
Wow.
I do pretty well with routine purging and organizing. In the midst of that right now in fact. I collect, but I do not like feeling overwhelmed/overtaken by my stuff.
I live with and love someone who requires 3 closets and still has some overflow. Oh, the joy.
But so long as there is a clear path to the bathroom, I leave most go. :-)
MG: 'A clear path to the bathroom' -- absolutely essential!
8: Any progress is good, right?
I've read the book and watched the first three episodes of the series. Honestly, I wasn't a huge fan of the book because I think it's too easy to convince yourself that most things you have "spark joy.' I also don't like the idea of clearing things out just to bring in a bunch more stuff. But I still think there is something important there in the idea that clutter is stressful. And I do think the tone of the show is nice. Marie Kondo is actually a lot more likable in the show than the book. One interesting thing about the first episode that you skipped - there were several hints, to my clinical eye, that the couple would ultimately not stay together. Not that I'll ever know if I'm right about that.
I can't face it yet, and I too find the 'joy' thing exhausting. I like my stuff. Yes, I forget I have some of it, but I'm excited all over again when I do. I do want to pare down my Christmas stuff, too. That's on the list for this year. But mostly - eh. Does that mean I'm a hoarder? Maybe. Of good stuff.
Always glad to see you post!
Jean
Post a Comment