“Anxiety arises from not being able to see the whole picture. If you feel anxious, but are not sure why, try putting your things in order.” – Marie Kondo

Best-selling author of The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up and Spark Joy Marie Kondo offers much more than a space organization method. She makes the connection between decluttering external spaces and the outcome it has on decluttering our internal space and reframing our perspective. Less is more, a place for everything, choosing joy.

“The best way to choose what to keep and what to throw away is to take each item in one's hand and ask: “Does this spark joy?” If it does, keep it. If not, dispose of it. This is not only the simplest but also the most accurate yardstick by which to judge.” – Marie Kondo

During the pandemic lock-down of 2020, many people decluttered and organized their spaces since they couldn’t leave them. In spring, I decided to replace old linoleum, carpet and laminate flooring with vinyl plank flooring throughout my first floor. To prepare for the project, I had to move everything from the first floor into the garage. That required clearing space in the garage first. While I was at it, I decided to also repaint the walls as well. It took a month to get ready for the floor installation including a lot of trips to donate and discard items. Unknowingly, we collect a lot through the years, inside and out. We don’t realize how much until we have to create space for new things.