(I'd like to repost what I wrote in another forum)
Can I share my experience? I discovered this book mid 2014. I applied the results starting December 25, 2015.
Renegade is correct. It's a hit & miss book. Either you'll love it, or you'll hate it. I'm willing to try anything new, as long as I can benefit from it. Here are the things which i applied and the results.
#1 Decluttered My Closet
I didn't exactly follow what was written in her book. I gathered all my work clothes, house clothes, and undies. I put it on a pile. Asked "joy" for every item. It took me 3 hours. I ended up giving 2 large bags of clothes. one bag weighed 5-8 kgs.
I have yet to declutter my bags and shoes and other things I wear. Clothes are easy to retrieve now. I don't have to worry a lot. They don't eat up closet space, because of number 4.
Marie Kondo, IMO, is correct. Discard before you organize.
#2 Donated my collection of Books, Children's Books & (gasp!) manga collections, anime & gaming magazines
I loved them dearly. But some of my books have been sitting inside the bookshelves, unread and dusty.It made me guilty. Plus, my books were accumulating. I didn't like it. I didn't like to maintain a lot of stuff. Adulthood changes you. You go from less to more, then more to less.
"The purpose of a book is to be read"
"A half-read book means it was probably meant to be half-read"
Those phrases were my battle cry as I decided to take my books from the shelves and decide. You see, I went to a coffeeshop here in my place. They had mangas, and I planned to donate my collection. Then the cashier told me "we have a book drive for children in boulevard area". Bingo.
I still have a lot of books to give away. Reading this book made me realized I just want to be surrounded by books that I love and would like to reread. No wonder I am attracted to ebooks--- they offer me the luxury to read without taking up space.
However, I still have physical books. My favorites though.
#3 Emptied my Bag & Put the contents in a box
Before this book came into my life, I always had a problem with my bag and its contents. Once I arrived home, I left my bag on the couch. Its contents intact. Sometimes, I actually forgot what I put inside the bag. I've misplaced my keys,wallet and ID inside my house many times. It can be frustrating. It doesn't help that I used to share a bedroom with my mom. our bedroom was messy. my mess seemed to blend with the background. She was ok with it. I became ok with it. I was surprised that I had a bag which I last used in 2010. The items inside were still intact!
So I just did what was written. It was tedious. but I never regret it.
I'm surprised how easy it is after a couple of days. I don't lose my important items anymore. I'm actually happy because of it.
And my bag? It's resting after a long day of carrying my stuff!
#4 Fold the Clothes Konmari style
This one changed my life. No, really! this is even more important than number 3! I didn't know how to fold. I piled my clothes horizontally, "on top of each other". It was such a hassle.But ever since this book came.... it has been such a lifechanger!
I might publish photos of my drawers, but I'm amazed how I was able to maintain my drawers with neatly folded clothes!
It has become a source of pride and joy for me. It's been 2 months since I've applied this. I feel so different now!
#5 I hate my mom's clutter because I also have clutter I don't want to deal with
There's a chapter that mentions "If you're mad at your family, your room may be the cause". Hm. good point. I don't have a room of my own. well, I do have one, but it was converted into a storage room for my mom's clutter.
For years, I've lived in clutter. I still do. I share a bedroom with my mom. To her, the clutter seems to have blended into the background. It doesn't bother her as it bothers me. I disposed some of her items, and she got mad (well, who wouldn't?). She told me to tell her everything I dispose, because there might be some items she will use.
Yeah,right.
This was the reason why I couldn't dispose some items in our room. Because it's hers.
So this book came along. this chapter came along. After months of thinking, I decided to transfer to my room. I reclaimed it.
I removed traces of my mom's stuff (though she tried to give me stuff... because I might need them. I just kept them in a corner.... never used them)
I intentionally surrounded myself with stuff I only need...and you know what? Something strange happened.
when I enter our her bedroom, I'm no longer mad. I just look around and hope she'll find it in her heart to clean. I just focused on my cleaning & discarding my items.
And another strange thing happened as well.
My mom has started to pare down as well. How? Well, she gave dozens of her chickens for free!
I liked the eggs those chickens produced, but I never liked their manure. Our backyard stank chicken coop.
so there!
those were my experiences.
The Folding is a success with me, as well as "Emptying the Bag" thing too.