Does it spark joy?

@sol_cee (38222)
Philippines
February 3, 2019 10:59pm CST
My friend is going to move to a new house very soon. She has a lot of things to do which include packing, packing and packing her stuff. I went to her place to help but sadly we didn’t accomplish anything. My idea is to throw away things that are old or broken. Fewer things to pack. More space to save. My friend thinks otherwise. Every item in her house has a story and she seemed to be consumed with its sentimental value however tattered or old they may look. Sigh! I really wanted to help so I ended up introducing Marie Kondo to her. Marie Kondo is a famous celebrity known for her unique decluttering style. She has countless YouTube videos where she helped people in organizing their stuff. MariKon technique is holding an object and asking yourself the question ‘Does this spark joy?’ It’s kinda weird watching Kondo in a video holding an old t-shirt with her eyes closed, mumbling something incoherent, then shivering or trembling for a few seconds as if the t-shirt spirit went over her body. Really strange. But I totally get what she meant. Letting go of things which have deeper meaning to us is difficult. But do we really need them? Do they serve their purpose? Do they spark joy? I get it. My friend, however, doesn’t. Well, she can always change her mind. How about you? When was the last time you decluttered? Photo is of the chocolates I ate because my friend stressed me out. lol
28 people like this
29 responses
@JudyEv (326275)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Feb 19
It can be really difficult helping someone pack - as you found out. I have decluttered a lot lately but I keep doing a bit more here and there.
7 people like this
@sol_cee (38222)
• Philippines
4 Feb 19
I’m doing my own decluttering and I realized I have lots of books. I don’t know whether to bring them all when I go home for good or.. I can’t think of the or part. lol
3 people like this
@JudyEv (326275)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Feb 19
@sol_cee I eventually managed to get rid of a lot of my books but I still have more to go.
3 people like this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
4 Feb 19
@sol_cee Bring them home and open a free barangay library. You can also donate them to Kagawad Reine :)
3 people like this
@jstory07 (134727)
• Roseburg, Oregon
4 Feb 19
I got rid of a lot of stuff when we moved. All of our furniture except our nice bed.
4 people like this
@sol_cee (38222)
• Philippines
4 Feb 19
That must have cost lots of money.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
4 Feb 19
I have moved many times, and I every time I go through my things. I don't keep things that are broken and things that I don't use anymore. I only want to keep the things that are really important to me. I have thrown many things away and I have also donated many things to charity. Those things weren't broken, I just didn't need them anymore.
2 people like this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
5 Feb 19
@sol_cee I like to move. I am a restless person, I don't like to stay at the same place for a long time. I prefer to new surroundings and new experiences. I have lived in 4 different countries and in many different parts of my own country.
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38222)
• Philippines
4 Feb 19
A wise decision. But why did you have to move many times?
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38222)
• Philippines
5 Feb 19
@Porcospino 4 countries! Wow! You’re brave. Japan maybe next?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118611)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Feb 19
I try not to clutter in the first place, so that I don't have to every worry about de-cluttering later. For the most part, I am a minimalist, where I try to live simply without a lot of possessions and "stuff." Well, except for shoes. I have a lot of shoes. Too many shoes. Just ask @JudyEv!
3 people like this
@sol_cee (38222)
• Philippines
5 Feb 19
Why do you need lots of shoes? Guy thing?
2 people like this
@sol_cee (38222)
• Philippines
5 Feb 19
@JudyEv 50+ pairs? That’s a lot of shoes for two feet. lol
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326275)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Feb 19
Oh help me, I can't breathe! A minimalist!! Oh yeah, sure. However, I do just happen to have 50+ pairs of shoes. Oh dear I'll have to go and lie down for a while.
2 people like this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
4 Feb 19
I can help with the decluttering of chocolates if any...Those dark ones are especially appealing
3 people like this
@sol_cee (38222)
• Philippines
4 Feb 19
The dark black pepper was . lol
2 people like this
• India
4 Feb 19
@sol_cee I was wondering about the pepper one
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38222)
• Philippines
5 Feb 19
@responsiveme It was weird. lol
1 person likes this
@Kasjnak (4492)
• Romania
4 Feb 19
Look at thise chocolates . This is a. Interesting approach to organising stuff and letting go of things. I understand the idea and I like it, I'll probably use it too . The last time we checked our stuff was two weeks ago, we ended up with two huge bags of clothes that we didn't need anymore .
2 people like this
@sol_cee (38222)
• Philippines
4 Feb 19
At least you were productive. What did you do with the two huge bags of clothes?
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38222)
• Philippines
5 Feb 19
@Kasjnak don’t you have charity organizations which accept used clothings?
1 person likes this
@Kasjnak (4492)
• Romania
5 Feb 19
@sol_cee took them to my mother-in-law, for now I'll leave them there. I don't know what to do with them right now .
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45123)
• Canada
5 Feb 19
I am constantly decluttering. As I go through things, I think, do I really need this? Will I use it one day? When I'm moving I become more brutal. I put everything I don't need in a box and ask my friends to help themselves and anything else left I throw away.
2 people like this
@1hopefulman (45123)
• Canada
6 Feb 19
@sol_cee Interesting! I am one that refuses anything that I don't really need.
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38222)
• Philippines
6 Feb 19
Good news! My friend listened to me and to Marie Kondo. She just listed some of her used items in an online secondhand shop. Interested people can get the items for free. :)
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38222)
• Philippines
7 Feb 19
@1hopefulman seems like you’re your island.
1 person likes this
@lady1993 (27225)
• Philippines
4 Feb 19
i have heard of that woman, but i never bothered looking her up. It is definitely better to let go of things that aren't really that important since you feel lighter too
2 people like this
@lady1993 (27225)
• Philippines
6 Feb 19
@sol_cee oh, i noticed she always has a translator with her
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38222)
• Philippines
4 Feb 19
She's really cute. I saw her in Ellen's show. She could understand Ellen's questions but she answered in Japanese.
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38222)
• Philippines
7 Feb 19
@lady1993 she does have one but I think she can understand English but is just not able to speak the language. Or just shy. Maybe.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
4 Feb 19
i will eat all of that except the milk and black pepper. yes, i've read about her. i understand your friend. some things are hard to let go of.
2 people like this
• Philippines
4 Feb 19
@sol_cee no, but i've always loved dark over milk and would also choose white over milk.
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38222)
• Philippines
5 Feb 19
@hereandthere I thought it's white because of the milk. lol
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38222)
• Philippines
4 Feb 19
Are you lactose intolerant? The dark black pepper was .
1 person likes this
@sofssu (23662)
5 Feb 19
Hmm.. I recycle and reuse as much as possible, throwing out is not an option for me, there is trash everywhere.
2 people like this
@sofssu (23662)
6 Feb 19
@sol_cee Yes, I did you are right. The landfills are growing by the day and the government doesn't do much.
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38222)
• Philippines
6 Feb 19
@sofssu and China stopped accepting all the trash from Japan and other countries. Big problem.
@sol_cee (38222)
• Philippines
6 Feb 19
Yeah I think you wrote a discussion about recycling some plastic jugs as flower pots or something. Now I’m not really sure.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (459635)
• Switzerland
4 Feb 19
I used to do what now Marie Kondo suggest many years ago. I moved several times to another country. Every not useful, broken, never used in months had to go. I throw nothing (unless it's broken), I donate to charities. The last time I decluttered? I had to empty the apartment of my mother last year, a 9 rooms apartment where she lived 66 years, it has been a stressful task.
2 people like this
@sol_cee (38222)
• Philippines
4 Feb 19
9 rooms! That’s a lot of decluttering for you Anna-san! Did you need any help?
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (459635)
• Switzerland
5 Feb 19
@sol_cee It has been a hard job, I have finished at the end of November, I sold my half apartment to my brother. He wanted to keep it, I do not want to have something in Italy and to pay taxes and other costs.
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38222)
• Philippines
6 Feb 19
@LadyDuck where do you stay if you go to Italy? In a hotel?
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247219)
• United States
4 Feb 19
I try to declutter as needed. I do like that idea of sparking joy or not. My husband declutters, then brings more "sparks of joy to him only" into the house. I guess our children will have to declutter when we are no longer around, which I really don't want them to have to do.
2 people like this
@sol_cee (38222)
• Philippines
5 Feb 19
Do you have 9 rooms like Anna-san's mom's apartment?
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38222)
• Philippines
5 Feb 19
@DianneN Can I stay in one? lol
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247219)
• United States
5 Feb 19
@sol_cee 10+ large rooms
1 person likes this
@just4him (307505)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
5 Feb 19
I have many sentimental items in my home. I've also learned to throw things away that have no sentimental value.
2 people like this
@sol_cee (38222)
• Philippines
5 Feb 19
My mother still has the first colored tv set my father bought. It's not working anymore.
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38222)
• Philippines
5 Feb 19
@just4him that’s one tough tv!
1 person likes this
@just4him (307505)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
5 Feb 19
@sol_cee That I don't have. I had a TV once that refused to die. It was quite old and the nobs were gone and you could only turn the channel with a pliers, but it worked.
1 person likes this
@nela13 (55761)
• Portugal
4 Feb 19
My husband is like your friend, he stresses me out too.
2 people like this
@sol_cee (38222)
• Philippines
4 Feb 19
You can have some of my chocolates. Haha
1 person likes this
@nela13 (55761)
• Portugal
4 Feb 19
@sol_cee eheheheh Thank you
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
1 Mar 19
I haven't decluttered for ages, not because I'm sentimental but because I'm too lazy.
@Namelesss (3368)
• United States
6 Feb 19
A cluttered life is hard to live. Cleaning out your home will reflect a change in your spirit, like you are decluttering that too. I do like to hang onto things of value that serve a purpose but only very few things hold that spot. When my space is cluttered my whole being feels cluttered.
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38222)
• Philippines
7 Feb 19
Interesting that you connected clutter to spirit. And it does make sense. ;)
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40246)
• United States
5 Feb 19
Those chocolates look great! I am trying to decutter - but it is a slow process I find.
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38222)
• Philippines
6 Feb 19
Slow process for me too, with myLot on the side. lol
1 person likes this
@YrNemo (20261)
28 Feb 19
Ouch, no one touched my stuff then! THEY all spark joy to me . (no, that technique doesn't work with me, I am the type who think logically, is this item still useful?)
• United Kingdom
5 Feb 19
Haven't decluttered for a long time but, looking around, it sure could use a good decluttering
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38222)
• Philippines
7 Feb 19
@sol_cee (38222)
• Philippines
6 Feb 19
Don’t throw away the three teddies on your profile picture please. ;)
1 person likes this
• United Kingdom
6 Feb 19
@sol_cee If I do you can have them!
1 person likes this
@WiseGhots (14607)
5 Feb 19
Can I have some chocolates? Because sometimes my girlfriend stresses me out.
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38222)
• Philippines
5 Feb 19
Does your gf spark joy? lol