It is a craze that has hit the world. In some parts of
the developed world it is big business. People throng to Meeting rooms where a
young Oriental lady demonstrates how to fold a gaudy, unruly looking shirt into
a neat rectangle. One can accommodate a hundred of these in a drawer. Scarcity
gave way to Plenty and with it came the tendency to hoarding as a result of
which one added umpteen items, needed as well as not so needed, until our
houses were brimming with items, goods, clothes and ornaments so much so that
we practically tripped over things. But that did not deter us from adding more
in the next High Street sale. Our neighbours had some items which we didn’t
really need but we just had to have it too. And so,it went on.
How often do we declutter a room? And then put back
items where they were? And so, the collection of dubious requisites continued.
So now comes the Declutter Expert! She herself had been a victim of Clutter but
suddenly, Eureka! She found the answer. She explains how to do it. “Hang a tote
bag on the outer door handle. Put in it unnecessary clothes and other items not
in use. When leaving the room take the bag away and give it to Charity or just
get rid of it.” Important point! Do not look at what is in the bag.
Decluttering has been extended not only to items and things like clothes,
ornaments, books (that you hope you will find the time to read) and travel souvenirs,
but also to one’s jobs, redundant partners, unhelpful friends, troublesome
employments, to mention a few. The Declutter Specialist goes on to say, ‘First
identify the things you want to keep either in the room, the kitchen, the
garden, the employment, marriage, family and friends. Then apply ‘Declutter’
action to all others.’
Let’s think of it in a different way:
You’ll separate want from
waste.
You will not act in haste.
For what you want, you have space;
The other things disappear
with grace.
But there are two sides to the story. Consider the
matter from another angle.
Everything in its own place
Is like a clock which has no face
Like and elephant with no tail
How can he brush off a tick or snail?
Clutter, besides, is more interesting
Like a garden with blooms bursting
Like a fruit seller with apples and pears
Take them off! He’s reduced to tears.
Clutter makes the town to flourish
Full of wares and foods to nourish
Take them away, pull them down
The place becomes a real Ghost town
Problem is the human race
Most good, some a ‘waste of space’
Even I ask the Powers that be
From this world, please declutter me!
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Reported by: Zita
Perera Subasinghe
References:
Decluttering by Kon Mari method from The Week
magazine in September 2018, Various talks on BBC Radio, Internet sites for
diagrams. The verses are mine.