The Marie Kondo Method works for a lot of people. Not for me. Everything sparks joy. Those maracas that D. brought me back from Mexico. The stocking repair kit that was my grandma's. The afghan that L. made me (as well as the mittens, and the scarf to match my coat) The boom box K. bought me before we got married.
I don't actively use any of those. I haven't played percussion anywhere in many years. I don't wear silk stockings. I live in a place now where I don't use scarves, or mittens. The afghan sits on the couch with all the other afghans made by people, or by me, and we rarely need them. Who needs a boom box when we have a phone/computer?
And yet, they spark joy. I doubt if any of my clothes spark joy. They are just body covers, and I am not immensely attached to any of them, except maybe the jeans that were L's, or the ones that got an ink stain on them when I visited when T. was born... or the dress I wore for The Summer of Weddings but haven't worn since... a couple of my dad's shirts. Some of my mom's clothes.
BUT..... they are not doing anyone any good sitting in a box that I get them out and look at them once in awhile.
And books. Books are... well, like the ability to time travel! Books are not just a rectangle of paper and leather or whatever the cover is made of. No, no... they are precious like gold and I have a lot of them. I have let some go, then found myself buying them again because I wanted them.
BUT.... who is reading them? I read some of them again and again. But what good is it when they are just sitting on a shelf with nobody actually using them?
I've watched enough of Hoarders (mainly to keep me in line, reminding me that for the grace of God go I) to know that I don't exactly have a healthy attitude where "stuff" is concerned. I want to keep it all.. I know that Letting THINGS go is not letting go of the PERSON. Some of my attachments are silly, like the stained jeans, although I happen to be wearing them at the moment. I guess if I use them that's ok!!
Do we NEED family heirlooms?? All I do is look at that dresser, and say, yes, it was from the Civil War, it has been handed down for generations. Is it valuable? I don't know. Does it matter? I also have a desk from the Linton side of the family, that was also from the Civil War. My grandpa had it in his basement full of comic books, and I admired the desk and he said "that old thing?" and he gave it to me. I use it every day. It's just a plain hand made desk, but somehow it sparks joy in a way the fancier Cody Dresser does not. It is in my garage, which has a poor record for protecting anything, things get ruined there. It is now at the bottom of a pile. At least it is on 2 x 4s and not directly on the floor. Still, I really want it out of there, but there is no where in the house to put it.
And then the fabric. I want to keep it all. I have so much it is shameful. I need to let it go. But there were plans!!! And when I left the quilt store she gave me a bonus, $400. The catch is that it was $400 worth of fabric!
BUT.... will it be USED? Do I have enough years left to finish the projects? No.
Sometimes I dream of moving into a small RV. HA. I'd have to rent a storage shed for my stuff.
I keep thinking of how free I will feel when I am done de-hoarding. But it's such a slow process, and I don't know if I can let anyone help.
Here's a little sample. A bag, a few fabric scraps. Easy peasy. Out. A card from one of my daughters in law. Another card from a different daughter in law. A list I made in January of the people I knew that died last year. There were eight on the list, and I know there were more. A Happy Thanksgiving card, and I never send them. A card from my late sister in law. By now I'm crying, gratitude for my daughters in law, sorrow at losing my sister in law, who was on that list last year. Then I look at the fabric, and wonder what that was for, maybe I should keep it? It does have cool texture. I made a purse out of this stuff a few years ago and there is enough for more. A couple note pads, one wrinkled, but I smooth it out.
So ten minutes go by and I have made NO actual decisions. Does everything spark joy? The cards from my loved ones do. The card from my sister in law sparks memories. Joy is not the only criteria. Nor can it be the final. ALL fabric sparks joy. As does paint, ink, paper, yarn, embroidery floss, dolls, little owl figurines, nativity scenes. BOOKS. My mother in law's old cookbook. My mother's recipe box.
I have a no kicking rule, so I follow it, and put the bag back in my "sorting" box. I go get some tea, and pick up my computer...
