Keep only those things that speak to your heart. Then take the plunge and discard all the rest.
By doing this, you can reset your life and embark on a new lifestyle. Marie Kondo
There’s no getting around it. I have too much stuff.
You know that scene in The Jerk when Nathan (Steve Martin) is leaving and he’s just picking up stuff on his way out…I don’t need anything…but I need this…but nothing else…except this…
You get the idea. If not, watch the movie.
Oddly, or not, Nathan’s girlfriend wife is also named Marie (Bernadette Peters). At one point, when things are falling apart, she says “I don’t care about losing all the money. It’s losing all the stuff.”
I don’t need more stuff.
I would not, however, snark at more money. But that’s not what this post is about.
Since I retired…I did mention that I retired didn’t I?…I’ve been trying to deal with the stuff.
Earlier this year, I already took down a significant number of prints from my “Ego Wall” in my home office.
When I retired, I brought home enough to fill another wall, plus a large collection of safari animals. That collection grew out of my college obsession of collecting lions, an homage to Aslan.
You see my problem. Actually no you don’t because we’re not inviting people in until we clear this stuff out.
Don’t judge, we have company coming in mid-October and we have a deadline. That’s what’s leading to the stress.
I’m snarking a bit about Marie Kondo and her KonMari method, but I’m also beginning to wonder if she’s on to something.
My problem is, at some point in time, all of this stuff gave me joy.
I have a plastic bin full of t-shirts that I’m not wearing, but I’m not quite ready to say goodbye to.
I have boxes and boxes of paperwork…some of which prompted this post because I’m going through them…slowly.
If you want to be a blessing, send a shredder.
I have books that I will never read. The problem there is that, as a writer and a reader, it’s hard to think about giving them away.
I have memorabilia from shows I’ve been in or directed. I’ve got a whole box full of scripts and show notebooks.
I’ve got writing files.
You get the idea.
So Marie, I’m sorry for the times I’ve snarked at your “things that spark joy” comments.
I get it, and I’m all about making the hard decisions and getting rid of stuff.
Except I need this…and this…and that’s all…well, I need this…
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