There was an article in today’s paper about Marie Kondo and her method of decluttering that acknowledges the role an item has had in your life and allows you to let it go guilt free. It seemed a little out there until she mentioned being able to get rid of emotionally charged items like gifts from family or worn out favorites that make us feel guilty every time we see them.
Then as I was packing up Christmas decorations I came across the large box of old creche figures from my dad. They are the old, cheap plaster figures, most of them are broken and all are truly ugly. Every year I lug them out, look at them and pack them back up. This year I kept three little sheep (which based on scale and style are not even part of the larger set) that I will display with my creche figures each year. They will be my connection to my dad and his family. The rest I got rid of. And I feel great having gotten rid of some clutter, and better yet, I won’t feel awful seeing and not displaying those ugly, battered figures each year.
I am going to try to put more of this into practice this year!
Her book is here:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Life-Changing-Magic-Tidying-Decluttering/dp/1607747308
