A few months ago I went to a downsizing session led by Laura Moore of Clutter Clarity (http://www.clutterclarity.com/). The room was filled with mostly women of a certain age. Laura asked us to consider that as our lives change, what we should consider clutter changes, too. She suggests that when reviewing our possessions, we ask ourselves four questions: Do I love it now? Do I use it (within a year’s period)? Do I have space for it? Does it fit my lifestyle (considering my age, my health, my hobbies, my aesthetics)?
Laura shared four objects with us: a yoga mat, an unattractive checked man’s jacket, a barely used pocketbook, and an odd-looking wire object, whose purpose was unclear. She asked by a show of hands to tell her which ones would be clutter in their homes.
- The yoga mat was least likely to be voted as clutter, but Laura reported that she didn’t need the yoga mat because she already had one, and she didn’t need two.
- Everyone thought the man’s jacket was ugly—it was outdated and somewhat worn. But Laura said it belonged to her dear grandfather, who had passed away, and when she saw it hanging in her closet, it gave her great pleasure. She would never give away that jacket as she had the space for it.
- The large pocketbook brought mixed reactions. Most people didn't care for it. Some people liked it, and some didn’t. She gave away the pocketbook to a person who loved it and said she had only five other bags.
- And the strange metal object? It was an antique pie cooling rack, and she collected old metal household objects that are now plastic. Plus, used on its side, it made a great file rack. She loved it.
The big lesson in this short presentation is that value is subjective. The seemingly useful yoga mat has less value for its owner if the owner already has one or doesn’t practice yoga. Of course, auidience members were quick to point out that one could use a yoga mat for other purposes, such as a rug mat (to keep a rug from slipping). But isn’t that a game that a lot of us who are reluctant to let go play with ourselves? This item could be useful, and therefore, I will hang onto it.
Conversely, there are items we can give ourselves permission to hang onto, regardless of their lack of seeming worth, because they bring us joy. (That’s the Marie Kondo philosophy, too.) Laura’s grandfather’s jacket was one of those as was the pie cooler, which in addition to being part of a collection had utilitarian value.
Here are my four objects (pictured above, but you will need to see the full picture to identify the objects):
- The bag with the Chinese dragon motif: I do like it, but I bought it several years ago and never used it…. Probably time to give it away as I have lots of bags. CLUTTER
- The spatula: at one time very useful, but I own stick-free frying pans, and metal is a no-no. I have an old one I use on the grill outside, so do I still need this one? CLUTTER
- The stuffed rabbit: Not a children’s toy, but rather part of a game my husband and I have played with each other for more than 30 years. As the month turns over, whoever says “rabbit, rabbit” first wins the rabbit for the month. We love this game and its rabbit symbol. PS. My husband usually wins, but I have won the coveted animal two months in a row! NOT CLUTTER
- The empty wine bottle: Normally, I wouldn’t keep a wine bottle, even one from a significant occasion, but my father made the wine, and my mother designed the label, which says “Chateau Brett.” Both parents are long gone. I will keep it as long as I have space to display it. NOT CLUTTER FOR NOW.
What’s in your house?
(To see a video snippet from the workshop that covers the above points, click on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGNhsHySpQY.)
