When I started this process I was frustrated that Marie Kondo says it will take up to six months to complete the process. I want magical transformation now!!! I'm not the most patient person in the world. And I know that, as with any decluttering/organizational effort, things will get worse before they get better...that will be especially true when I tackle the kitchen, and then papers and miscellaneous items (komono) and sentimental items and crafts.... But I don't have to accomplish this all in one weekend, or even one week, or one month. I do have a six month goal, however.
So, one month in I'm almost finished with all of my clothing. I still need to do workout clothing and coats, but then I will be completely done with clothing! I plan to finish those this week, and coats should be easy because Brie and I went through the coat closet several months ago and got rid of a lot of coats.
One month in, one category almost done. And guess what? I am actually seeing magical transformations in my life. In just one month. Miraculous magical transformation!
-My dresser drawers and closet have stayed neat, organized, and tidy, despite the fact that I get things out and put them back on a daily basis -- sometimes multiple times each day. My neatly folded shirts and jeans and pants and shorts and pajama and socks are all still very neatly folded -- they seem to want to stay that way. It's so easy at the end of the day to take something off, refold it, and put it right back into its designated spot in my dresser drawer.
-It's been one month since I have left an article of clothing on my bedroom floor. Those of you who always immediately put your clothing away/in the hamper when you take them off won't recognize what a triumph this is for me -- what a transformation. But it's true -- I just automatically want to put things away when I take them off, whether that's back in the dresser, the closet, or the hamper. Last night I somehow ended up with an extra nightgown on my bed when I got ready for bed and rather than fold it and put it away, I dropped it on the floor next to my bed. It bothered me and bothered me and bothered me and I had to deal with it....it was like it was sitting there looking at me with a sad face, wondering why I wasn't taking care of it in the manner it should be cared for! Crazy, I know, but it's definitely a huge change for me.
-Shopping. I am a shopaholic. But since I started this journey one month ago, my shopping urges have significantly decreased. I have actually gone into Target and not bought a single item of clothing or for my home that wasn't on my shopping list! Nine West -- check! J. Crew -- check! Ann Taylor -- check! Loft -- check! This is miraculous, people. I can't even begin to tell you. Part of it is a result of actually staring at the piles of my clothing, handling each item, and coming face to face with how much I had, how much I didn't wear, and how much I didn't need. Part of it is knowing that, even though I have some drawer space and closet space available to me, I have a wonderful assortment of clothing that sparks joy and that I love....and I have more of it than I really need. So when I see items in the store, I appreciate their loveliness but I don't feel a burning desire to buy them and bring them home. I've even found myself walking around the store mindlessly picking up things to buy, only to look at them and realize that I don't love them that much and I have things at home that I love more...and returning the items to their racks in the stores. This is huge. This is transformation.
-Wardrobe choices. I knew that I preferred certain colors, but I didn't realize how monochromatic my wardrobe had become until I freed everything that didn't spark joy and organized the rest of it. I have A LOT of black, navy, gray, and white in my wardrobe, with splashes of light blue, fuschia, and purple. Now I know exactly what I have and what I need -- I need a belt to wear with jeans. I need a soft white t-shirt to wear with pajama pants (bought that yesterday). And when I do decide I want to buy new clothes, I know what colors are missing from my wardrobe so I can branch out and try new things. I find that I no longer shop mindlessly -- I know exactly what I want/need and that's what I get. I needed some work pants that fit -- bought three pairs and two sweaters to coordinate with them -- they add a needed bit of color (plum and teal) and coordinate with almost everything else I own. I needed a pair of black dressy sandals -- found them on clearance at Nine West and didn't buy anything else. I've been looking for a pair of nude strappy sandals -- found them on clearance at Ann Taylor and didn't buy anything else. Needed a white t-shirt to wear with pajamas -- bought that at Target and didn't buy anything else. I love this feeling of knowing exactly what holes I need to fill in my wardrobe and then finding those items.
I have taken three large bags of donations to Salvation Army and have three more bags ready to go, plus a few other things. And that is just from doing my own clothes. I'm excited about the process and wish I had more time to devote to it....but that's ok -- I'm making progress!
