2. A Cluttered Desk

I have not watched Marie Kondo’s show or read any of her books, but I have heard that when it comes to clutter, she recommends parting ways with things in your home that don’t evoke joy. You know, there are plenty of items in my house that don’t spark joy in me: my bathroom scale, for instance; my nightguard; the broom; the washing machine; bills. But I can’t necessarily get rid of these things. Most of my own personal clutter stems from my life-long journey as a reader and a writer: I admittedly have an overabundance of magazines and newspapers; books; pens (I have probably a dozen in my purse alone); notebooks of various shapes, colors, and sizes; post-its, notes, and other loose paperwork and scraps of paper; lots of lists; old greeting cards, letters, and business cards (some dated as far back as 15 years from my time as a newspaper reporter); and old journals and diaries. I am almost certain I’ve held on to every diary I’ve ever kept. This photo above is of the first diary I’ve ever bought (from a school Scholastic book sale), along with the first “book” I ever wrote (a tale about aliens, which is interesting because I am not a fan of either sci fi or fantasy genres). Do my old diaries spark joy in me? No, but definitely nostalgia. Will I ever read any of my old diaries again? Maybe, but probably not. But these dusty old objects are a part of who I am. Obviously, I am not the same person I was at 10, 15, 18, 20, or even 30, but my old journals and diaries represent who I once was, and how I’ve evolved, how far I’ve come. So, I am hesitant to part with them. And, my first diary and the first book I ever wrote serve as a reminder of why I write, which is what I need right about now. So, my advice when it comes to your own clutter is to just forget about that Marie Kondo person and keep the things that make you you. Even if it means you have a messy desk.

What takes up too much space in your home but you can't seem to let go of it? What do you like to collect? Drop me a line and let me know.