By Angel Ella
If you have been browsing Netflix for new shows to watch, you may have seen in passing the title “Tidying Up With Marie Kondo”. Who is Marie Kondo and what is so special about her that suddenly made her a household name?
Marie Kondo is a Japanese organizing consultant. A what? Basically, she helps people in organizing and setting up a system to help them improve their quality of lives, have better productivity and efficiency. She is also the creator of the Konmari Method of organizing things.
I must admit, I wasn’t really interested at first. I keep seeing posts about her show on my Facebook feed, but I didn’t bother to check it out. Then my husband told me in a very gentle way (so as not to offend me!) that I should watch it. I didn’t. Then I overheard my sister talking to herself the next day, “I should Konmari my apartment tomorrow”. Netizens (even the millennials!) are now posting something about “Does this spark joy?” and my curiosity got the best of me. I gave in and added the show on My List. I started watching the first episode and next thing I know I finished all 8 episodes in one sitting!
I didn’t expect that a reality show can be this relaxing. Maybe it’s because of Marie’s gentle little voice? Or the way she speaks and her genuine reaction to a specific situation. She’s so little and cute that it will make you want her to be your best friend and invite her over to tea parties.
The simplicity of the Konmari method may be the secret why it’s so successful. She broke it down to 3 simple steps.
1. Gather and put together all your belongings, one category at a time.
2. Hold it close and if it “sparks joy” then it should go to the for keeps pile.
3. Choose a place where to put them.
Sounds simple, but what most of the families in the show realized is, how hard it is to let go of the things that had to be thrown out.
I realized that she’s correct. Why do we love holding on to things we haven’t really used (or even seen) for ages? Why do we keep things that don’t really make us happy? I am guilty; I am one of those people who keep stuff just because I might be able to use them again someday.
I especially love the part where she solemnly says “hello” to the homes, she is showing so much respect to the place that gives these families a sense of security and belongingness. I also love that she makes them thank the things that they need to throw away. To show appreciation to the service they once provided to their owners.
Marie Kondo’s greatest contribution to these families is not just helping them declutter, but also helping them organize their lives, their emotions, their thoughts and especially their relationships.
She currently has 182,000 YouTube subscribers, 2.2 million followers on Instagram, and 139,000 Twitter followers. If you want to learn more about her KonMari method, check out her website and watch her on Netflix. Next thing you know, you are picking up your stuff and checking which of them “sparks joy”.
