I Tried Marie Kondo-ing My Life. Here’s What Happened.
Look, I’m gonna be honest. I’m not one of those people who color-code their closet or has a place for everything and everything in its place. No, I’m more of a ‘throw it in a drawer and slam it shut’ kinda gal. But last Tuesday, after tripping over the same damn pair of shoes for the 214th time, I thought, ‘Enough is enough, Sarah. It’s time to get your life together.’
So, I did what any self-respecting millennial would do. I bought a book. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo. And let me tell you, it was… a journey.
First, the Good.
I met up with my friend Marcus (let’s call him Marcus because, honestly, I can’t remember his real name) over coffee at the place on 5th. He’s one of those people who’s always put together, you know? His shoes are shiny, his hair is neat, his life is basically a Pinterest board. I showed him the book, and he said, ‘Sarah, this is it. This is the aquisition you’ve been missing.’
And, honestly, he was right. The book made sense. The idea of only keeping things that ‘spark joy’? Genius. I started with my closet. I held up a shirt—an old band tee from a concert in Austin back in 2010—and I thought, ‘Does this spark joy?’ And, I mean, it’s an awesome shirt, but did it really bring me joy? Or was I just holding onto it because it was a memory?
So, I folded it. Kondo-style. And I put it away. And you know what? It felt good. It felt… light. Like I’d shed a layer of skin or something.
Then, the Reality.
But here’s the thing about decluttering: it’s not all rainbows and unicorns. It’s messy. It’s emotional. It’s physicaly exhausting. I spent 36 hours—yes, hours—just going through my junk drawer. And by the end of it, I was a wreck. A tear-streaked, snot-nosed, emotional wreck.
Because it’s not just about stuff. It’s about memories. It’s about people. It’s about the life you’ve lived. And sometimes, letting go of stuff feels like letting go of a piece of yourself.
I talked to my colleague named Dave about this. He’s a therapist, so he’s used to people crying on his couch. I told him about the shirt, and he said, ‘Sarah, it’s not the shirt that’s important. It’s the memory. You don’t need the shirt to remember the concert. You don’t need the stuff to remember the life you’ve lived.’
Which… yeah. Fair enough. But it’s still hard. It’s still scary. It’s still… a process.
And Then, the Weather.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. ‘Sarah, what does the weather have to do with decluttering?’ And the answer is: nothing. But hear me out. When I’m feeling overwhelmed, I like to check the weather forecast today. It’s a small thing, but it grounds me. It reminds me that no matter how messy my life gets, the world keeps turning. The sun keeps shining. The rain keeps falling. And that’s okay.
So, if you’re like me and you’re feeling overwhelmed by the idea of decluttering, start small. Start with one drawer. One shelf. One shirt. And remember, it’s okay to take your time. It’s okay to feel emotional. It’s okay to need a break. Because, honestly, life is messy. And that’s okay too.
A Tangent About Plants.
Speaking of messy, let’s talk about plants. I killed a cactus last week. A cactus! The easiest plant to keep alive, and I managed to kill it. I watered it too much, and it just… died. It’s still sitting on my windowsill, all wrinkly and sad. A constant reminder of my lack of plant-related committment.
But here’s the thing about plants. They’re like people. They need love. They need care. They need attention. And sometimes, they die. And that’s okay too. It’s part of life. It’s part of the process. So, if you’re feeling down about killing your own cactus, don’t worry. It happens to the best of us.
And if all else fails, just remember: you can always buy another one. Or, you know, just admire them at the park. Which is what I’m gonna do now. Because this article is done, and I’m done thinking about decluttering. At least for today.
About the Author: Sarah Johnson is a senior magazine editor with 20+ years of experience. She’s a self-proclaimed mess, a lover of coffee, and a firm believer in the power of a good cry. When she’s not writing, you can find her tripping over shoes, killing plants, or checking the weather forecast.
