A Better Way to UnClutter

Like everyone
I fight clutter.
But I also defend it.
Which makes it hard to fight.

Today a productivity email I sometimes open
Suggested these two questions
As the most useful when sorting.

The current classic:
“Does this spark joy?” —Marie Kondo

That can be kind of tricky.
I once saw someone tossing a sign that said joy.
Apparently sometimes even joy does not spark joy.
And may I suggest - many of us - hi it’s me
Don’t know/value joy.
If joy is not your actual life goal
Then why are you using it as the litmus test for decluttering?

I also became suspicious of Marie Kondo
When she suggested getting rid of all paper.
Well her book was paper.
And I got rid of it.

The second question this guy suggested for sorting:
”Is this prompting a good or bad habit?”

I mean I have as many habits as the next person.
Even substack is a writing habit.
And I have spent considerable energy
Changing my habits.
I haven’t had a drink in 13 years e.g.
But all of life isn’t habits.
Which pillows to keep on the couch
Just has zero to do with habits.

So is it random?
No sometimes you hold onto something as a placeholder.
It’s not exactly the desk/car/red scarf that would spark joy.
But you do need a desk/car/red scarf.

And I do have a question I ask when I’m sorting.
”Is there a story attached to it?”

Because we live for stories.
And maybe even we live off stories.
The fuel, color, encourage, warn us.
They prompt, scold, entertain us.
We are always writing our story.
I’m looking around my office.
Every single thing is a story.
There s design too.
It’s kind of femme Parisian.
Which also tells a story of my future.

The things that spark stories.
Might be a broken piece of a ceramic mug handle.
I mean does it spark joy?
Not at all.
It makes me miss the two people who have the other two pieces.
Does it encourage a bad or good habit?
Neither.
Does it take me back to a certain day at Brown
When one of the three of us broke a mug
And we each took a piece
And said it would forever remind us of this moment.
Of how we were connected.
And how breaking something can create a bond.
That little pice of broken handle.
That looks like nothing.

Of course it’s helpful and relaxing and prodcutive
To have a decluttered space.
I’ve written here before about The Current Rotation Drawer.
I’m always working at it.
But joy and habits.
Those aren’t my measure.
I measure my life in verses and rhymes.
In paragraphs and captions.
And that’s how I measure my spaces as well.

Infinitely Yours,

Beth

PS I’m super excited about this next iteration of It’s A Lot!
We’ll be at El Cid on Friday February 23.
If you are in Los Angeles love to see you there!
Get your tickets now!