PopSugar Reading Challenge Book 9 or Life Changing Magic

For translation I enjoyed The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo, originally published in Japanese. It’s basically Shinto minimalism. I started investigating minimalism last year when I just felt so bogged down by my things. I felt suffocated and wanted the space and freedom to breathe. Kondo’s book blew up in January and was a bestseller on multiple continents. Her methods are unique but they work.

One person said she was ‘crazy’ to bless the houses and thank her items but that’s not crazy, that’s Shinto. An indigenous religion to Japan, one of the tenets of Shinto is the existence of spiritual power in inanimate objects.  Kondo is a former shrine maiden so this belief is central to who she is and her method of decluttering. To an extent, I’ve always had a little bit of that mindset. I believe valuing something means caring for it and treating it respectfully. I’m dancing mighty close to 30 and I still care about my stuffed animals’ feelings.

I loved her idea of letting something go once it’s filled its purpose so it can bring purpose to someone else. It makes it easier to know my book with ripped pages going in recycle is just giving it new purpose in it becoming printer paper or a pizza box. I think her idea of thanking her possession for their hard work is a nice way to bring gratitude into your everyday existence. It reminds you to enjoy what you have that’s making your life function smoothly(ish).

I’m not ready to go whole hog but she has definitely inspired me to cut down on what is just taking up space in my life. Frankly, I’d have to cut my possessions in half just to be able to go through them all in a day. The next things on my cut-down list are winter accessories and handbags. I’ve already got an insane amount of books to take to be sold, again. If feels liberating to know I’m only keeping what I brings me joy or serves a purpose.