the life-changing magic of tidying up – Full Disclosure

First, I’ve mentioned this book before here.

Second, I love this book!

Third, my mother *dislikes it and sent me an email after I mentioned it in the post I referenced above. I asked her for permission to share the email and she agreed. Here’s what it said:

Well, Sherry, guess I’ll have to take a second look at that book, as I really, really hated it, and I don’t use that word lightly. Bought it, read it, tried to like it (after all, everyone else seemed to), but still hated it. I actually developed a visceral response to the word “tidy” – it must have been used about a gazillion times in that book – and it grated on me like chalk on a blackboard. So . . . on second thought . . . what on earth was I thinking when I said I’d try to reread it? Just writing about it has sent my blood pressure into the stratospheres, so in all honesty, I’m never going to read that damn book again!

(Re: * above – okay, loathes)

Knowing that, I’m still giving  The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo  a post of its own because… I wanna. Pffft.

So, what made me want to talk about it today? Lemme tell ya.

1. I cleaned out my bookshelf and sold and/or donated any books that didn’t give me joy, which includes many books I’ve talked about here. I did this for two reasons:
   1. I love this book
   2. I need the money
   3. Oh, I guess I should tell you that I quit my part-time sales job. Why?
      1. Because it didn’t bring me joy. Why?
         1. Because I no longer have it in me to sell advertising. Why?
            1. Same verse, same as the first.
            2. Also, because it was such a part-time job, I spent more time driving and more money on gas than felt worth it.
            3. That’s not really as true as the fact that I no longer felt equipped or able to sell something in a saturated market, which is to say, a small town that was already very well represented by others in my office.
            4. I didn’t want to do it anymore.

So, I sold and/or gave away about 90 books and got about $50 total, which has already been spent on food. Don’t worry, we aren’t starving by any stretch (for reference, ask my big hiney) but really, folks, it all comes down to this: The book asks you to hold each item and ask yourself if it brings you joy. I’m a major purger (of all but food and I don’t joke about that because binging and purging is a very real problem but sometimes, I wish I could binge and purge because my problem is obvious to all who see me. But I digress.) Now, where was I? Oh yes, I’m a major purger and have done this before and often to my detriment as I remember I needed something from that book…. whichever one it is… now where is it? Oh yeah, at Goodwill, Value Village or The Salvation Army… or, of course, in your bookcase because you bought it there. Yep. *sigh*

Anywho, I’m in the middle of a purge as I have some time off before I work my last two weeks (next week and the one after) at ye old office. Remember when I was so sick? I’m still at about… oh, 85%. Still coughing and blowing and headachy and stuff, so we all chatted about the best way to end this on a good note. They’re good people.

Now, Kondo has done videos and stuff but I still like the book best – of course I do! Mom was right though, the word “tidy” is used about six hundred thousand times. And really, there is a bottom line, which I already told you: Does it bring you joy? Yes, keep. No, discard. Easy/peasy.

So, this is what I’m doing over the upcoming long weekend – at least here in Canada. Is it the same where you are?

If you have some time and inclination, find this book and get motivated. You’ll be glad you did!

PS: Except Mom.

PSS: Don’t listen to her!

PSSS: I love you, Mom! 🙂