Tuesday 10 May 2016

The magic of tidying...

It all started here - a Christmas gift

In January/February, I tackled my clothes - sorting and culling... five big bags to the charity shop and neat and tidy drawers and cupboards. I now know exactly what clothes I own and where they are in the bedroom :)

In March/April, I tackled my books - sending another four bags to the charity shop. But I confess I simply cannot heed Kondo's drastic book-clearing methods! My books are my friends, my companions, my soothsayers (as in they speak truth to me). Here's my favourite bookcase - it holds my Virginia Woolf/Bloomsbury Group collection. 


Then, recently, I tackled my desk/art supplies area - here's just one part of the chaos... I couldn't actually get to the desk and art cupboard (out of shot to the right) for months!



I followed Marie Kondo's basic strategy (though not her time-frame!!) - working through different categories of belongings, gathering them all in one place to see exactly I owned (gulp!), and handling each and every one, and asking myself, 'Does this bring me joy?'

And through all this mental and physical energy-draining process, I discovered the joy of reconnecting with long-lost, forgotten things. The joy of saying goodbye to stuff that just doesn't 'do it' for me any more, but it may for someone else :). The joy of clearing a space for things I love and want to touch, handle, wear, play with...


And now, I can actually do the stuff I want to - write letters, journal, draw, paint, stamp, be expressive, creative...
At least I will, when I've fully recovered and built up my energy reserves once again :/


8 comments:

  1. Serenity reigns - well done on making your space more like how you want it to be. I am with you on the books, though - tear them away from me at your peril! :-)
    Now - go play with all your newly rediscovered friends!! Lovely post, thank you, Claire xx

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    1. Thank you for this lovely, lovely comment, Roz :) xx

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  2. Wow - great job! Bet you breathe a sigh of relief now it's all done!

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    1. I certainly have - it's taken me a few days to recover...

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  3. I did the same early this year, its very rewarding.

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    1. It is very satisfying, Kate, but exhausting... I'm still recovering!

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  4. It's an ongoing process, but things looks so tidy and organized. I think when there's room in our spaces, we have room in our spirits to let blessings in.

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    1. Exactly, Elizabeth! Couldn't have said it any better, thank you :)

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