the japanese art of decluttering and organizing

This beautiful, silver fortune cookie (trinket box) was a gift from my older son when he was in middle school.

And my daughter-in-law told me about this must-read book!

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Good Monday morning.

I just got back from my Annual Christmas Shopping Trip with my beloved friend of 35 years (as referenced in my post dated May 5, 2015 –  1weekend, 2friends, 3decades, 4ever – listed in the category of Sequencing: Cycles & Seasons of Life.)

I’m home! and ready to send you a wonderful book recommendation.

As always, if something has worked well in my life – I’m going to share it with you.

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On my desk – directly in front of my laptop – is this laminated quote I cut out of a magazine:

“DECLUTTER! Clutter raises our stress levels by making us feel distracted, overwhelmed, and out of control….”  

by Francine Jay, author of The Joy of Less.

I must read this quote three times a week.

Why do you think I need to constantly imprint these words in the forefront of my consciousness?

Because I suffer from the primal need to  hunt and gather….STUFF!

And, I’m thinking you may feel the same way I do.

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The day before my big Annual Shopping Trip – when I buy the majority of my Christmas stocking stuffers & small presents for my family – I was hit with this Eureka! Moment.

I thought to myself… “Sure, I’m going to buy the ‘perfect’ gift for each family member as always….but all of the other nonsensical chotskies and superfluous bric-a-brac will not be purchased with my hard-earned cash, packed in my overloaded trunk, and hauled several hours to my home….only to be stored in an overflowing closet or on an already cluttered shelf.”

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In hindsight, I did good.  Really good.

For the first time since my friend and I started this very lovely tradition, I only bought great stocking stuffers and small gifts for my husband, two adult sons, and my brand new daughter-in-law.

(And to be completely honest, I did buy myself two pair of ‘go-to’ earrings. One silver and one gold-tone pair of loops.)

I am quite proud of myself.

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 After 6 months of big-time decluttering and disposing of unnecessary and unwanted worldly goods, I can feel the lessening of stress in my home.

I can contribute this positive energy – in large part – because I read an extraordinary book,

the life-changing magic of tidying up by Marie Kondo.

I’ve read so many helpful books on simplifying and decluttering.

But this little book here – gave me something different.

Kondo’s book hit home .

It was a quick read with crisp and clean text!

Did I follow each and every precept offered by Marie Kondo?

Nope.

But I did implement the basics and backbone of her methodology.  And I can see and feel the results in my own home.

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Speaking of Christmas gifts…

This little book would be an ideal gift for anyone on your list who has a genuine desire to begin 2017 with a minimizing mindset.

And speaking of the New Year…

I shared with my husband that my 2017 resolution will be….

[drumroll, please]

To purchase NOTHING (yes, nothing) that is not considered a consumable or a capital improvement or a ‘needed’ service.

What does that actually mean – you may ASK?

Well of course, I’ll buy groceries, toiletries, vitamins, and gasoline.  No question, I will continue services for the upkeep of home and health.

But I won’t be buying clothes, shoes, purses, jewelry, knickknacks, decorative items, or what-nots.

Will I even get out of the month of January before I blow this resolution to smithereens?

I don’t know the answer to that question.

But I can tell you this much…

I’m going to do my very best to go the whole year without adding and increasing one single gadget or thingamajig.

My goal is to suspend spending until my Annual Shopping Trip in 2017 with my beloved girlfriend…

I am going to make a concerted effort to be grateful for what I have HERE & NOW.  To celebrate what God has provided and given already….not waiting to get excited for the latest and greatest New Shiny Object.

And in 2017, I am going to focus even more so… on Family & Friends and not fads & fashion.

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Wishing you well this November morning.

Hoping you will find huge inspiration from this tiny book!