Can Konmari Help My Family?

 

Hold it in your hands, and ask yourself, “Does it spark joy?”

Marie Kondo’s mantra is now my mantra. My family happened to be moving back into our newly remodeled house at the same time that Kondo’s book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing (affiliate link) hit the bestseller lists. As we unpacked endless piles of boxes, I began to realize that KonMari was on to something. I loved the feeling of openness and possibility in our new (mostly empty) home, and I could feel that clarity clouding up with each load of boxes. So I decided to give the Shinto-based practices a try.

An embroidered silk dress worn to a wedding six years ago sparked joy. Too-tight designer jeans only sparked shame. Bulky kitchen contraptions reminded me of frustration. And beautiful kitchen towels, gently folded and rolled Kondo-style, made me ridiculously giddy for reasons I can’t quite explain.

As I zealously explained the KonMari method to my husband, he asked, “What if the items that bring you joy aren’t the same things that bring me joy?”

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