It's been a nice spring break week off despite blizzards and such. I've gotten caught up on a few things and have just enjoyed the time off. On the last day of school before spring break began, Meego texted me:
- Meego: [band director] wants me to be in the orchestra for the school play
- Me; okay
- Meego: He wants me to play the upright bass
- Me: fine
- Meego: He wants me to bring the bass home and practice over spring break
- Me: I don't think it will fit in the Echo
- Meego: And I have to bring my baritione and electric bass home too.
- Me: HA! Good luck with that!
Undeterred, he strangely assumed I was joking and would help him get all that instrumentation from school to home somehow. *sigh* Fine
That was a joke. Well, he's practiced a little.
And it's back-to-school tomorrow. The van is currently somewhat buried in a snowdrift. I really don't feel like digging it out and am counting on the Easter sunshine to do the job.
I've mentioned here before how I'm a minimalist and hate clutter. When I first heard of this book, I thought, "good for her", but it would just be preaching to the choir as far as I was concerned. But I picked it up from the library (minimalist book ownership!) and have been enjoying it.
From the reviews I've read, it seems that readers either love it or hate it. And I understand where the haters are coming from. "Thanking" our possessions before we chuck them to the trash? Finding the "sweet spot" of just how our clothes "want" to be folded? Discarding anything that doesn't "spark joy" when we touch it?
I admit that I think there is something to this, however. Clutter makes me feel drained of energy. Certain outfits make me feel enlivened while others don't. I similarly believe there is something to feng shui, but haven't studied that either.
And I've been sharing what I've learned with Magnum, which prompted a bit of tidying on his part. I told him about the whole "sparking joy" thing. He feared that he would end up naked if he went through his clothes and discarded everything that didn't spark joy. But, he tried it out anyway, which resulted in throwing stuff out he didn't even remember having and finding apparently joy-sparking things he'd likewise forgotten about.
So, let the life-changing magic begin. And the upright bass goes back to school tomorrow. We might need a bit of magic to make that happen.
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14 comments:
I've heard a lot about that book, but I like my potato-ball socks. I'm all about getting rid of the clutter though, so I might have to give it a read anyway. Good luck with the bass. It's all about that bass (sorry, couldn't resist).
Alas, your stressed out potato-ball socks.
I get a kick out of the testimonials in the book like "Really helped me... I divorced my husband"
I need that book! I want to declutter but haven't taken the steps to do so. I think I'll do the "sparking joy" test on a few things in my closet.
Hope you enjoyed your Easter Day. I'm guessing it was like ours - a casual dinner with the kids, a few games, and a good movie. Nothin' better.
Even the book is cute and tidy! I've already "thanked" a few things for telling me I needed to let them go.
And yes, we had a nice casual Easter. Plus, the sun was shiny all day!
I think I'd be one of the haters of your book, except I think I was actually putting it in practice this weekend. Most gratifying was getting rid of gifts from a former boyfriend because the joy got sucked out of them. My goal is to actually get through the whole house on my spring cleaning frenzy, but I refuse to ask my clothes how they want to be folded!
I read that book and agree that some of the ideas were a little odd. I don't think my socks feel bad when they're balled up "incorrectly." I guess that's why my house is cluttered, though.
I have also strayed a bit from the book's path, but the general frenzy is all good!
Yep, I bet it all goes back to the socks!
I dated a double-bass-player in high school. I remember riding on a crowded bus with him and his double-bass, at rush hour. Good times! :-)
Those guys are so cool!
I'm laughing at Magnum and his lack of joy-sparking clothes! Tweak it for him so that he won't have to go naked.
It's time for round two of reading this book for me. We have so much stuff that I need to read it like daily bible reading. I'll expect a progress report.
You got me on Meego's practicing. I was like, "Whaaat!" as my kids would say. Thanks for clearing up that practice routine for me. I thought I was going to have to read the tiger mom book again to have my child compete with Meego.
I have become more attuned to my own "joy meter". We'll see if I can get to the point where it's done for good like the author promises. But yes, maybe some daily inspiration is needed.
And HA, no tiger mom here!
I've heard mention of the book, and a friend's daughter asked if I wanted to read her copy. (I do.) Even though I've yet to read it, I find myself asking if things around the house spark joy. (Things have gotten a little out of control in the past year. My mom's house gets a bit more attention from me than my own does.) I've recently decided that the many unused, single-purpose appliances do not bring us joy. A bread maker, some crock-pots, and a malt mixer are going. So are lots of clothes.... Just as soon as I can find the time to deal with them. (Hanging out on the computer is not helping the cause, but a girl's gotta have some down-time.)
I hope things settle down for you soon, so you can increase your own home's joy sparkle!
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