The Art of Decluttering- Sharing this skill with my batchmates. Zita Perera Subasinghe
How often do we declutter a room? And then put back items where they were?
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.
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
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.
This is so true Zita! The older I get, the more I clutter. When I had to move house a few years ago from a large to a small house, I couldn't believe the amount of decluttering required. There is another aspect. When I was a boy, my mother who went on a decluttering spree from time to time, caused no end of troubles to us children as we couldn't find anything in the house afterwards! Thanks for your interesting post.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Mahendra, we in our batch have had more than our share of clutter, moving house, decluttering and the process continues. Human beings are the biggest group of collectors of things. Just look at the programmes on TV making this a great virtue! Zita
DeleteZita. That’s an interesting post. Moving from a house in the country to an apartment in London was an experience in itself. Gave away and threw away much of a lifetimes collection leaving just enough to fit into our new abode. At my age there were precious momentos that had to go too which caused some heartbreak. I have written about my experience in a piece for the blog called Moving House or something to that effect. This process brought home to me what is important in life.
ReplyDeleteYes I remember reading your article you're referring to. I agree it is a big wrench when your precious mementos have to be abandoned. At the time, it seems unthinkable but move on and it's a distant memory as now you have your new clutter to think about! Happy Cluttering and Decluttering! Zita
DeleteRead ND's Moving House post, it is quite moving!
ReplyDeletehttp://colombomedgrads1962.blogspot.com/search?q=moving+house
It is interesting to read what I had written in the past. Memories return in torrents as I wade through the lines bringing back the heartaches and joys of the past. Life indeed is a journey and I have moved on. looking back on the path I have tread Does bring back raw emotions.
Delete