While I was out of town last week my husband painted our walk-in closet, which we had emptied the night before I left. We had re-painted our bedroom several years ago but not the closet. It was time.
When I returned from my trip we had the opportunity to go through every piece of clothing to decide whether or not it went back into the closet…using Marie Kondo’s suggestion… I found myself asking the question “does this spark joy?”
Of course you can’t get rid of everything but it felt good to look at our clothes and decide if we wanted to keep the article or if were we done with it.
At one point my husband said something didn’t sparkle for him and I giggled.
Our task brought to mind a visit to Pennsylvania a few years ago, visiting my husband’s family. As usual, we went to visit the old farmstead where my husband grew up. The new owners (30 years ago now) are very friendly and accommodating and always welcome us for a visit. (Their faith allows them to use electricity but not drive cars…so we always think about them using the garage door opener for their horse and buggy.)
The last time we were in Pennsylvania they invited us to tour their new house. They had razed the old farmhouse – including a attached stone house from the 1700’s (we were very sad it was demolished) – and built a new home. It was modern but plain. The woman of the house took me and my sister-in-laws on a tour and when we got to their bedroom I was surprised when she opened the walk-in closet door. On “his” side hung a few pair of black pants on the lower rack and several plain shirts on the top rack with a couple of hats on the shelf. On “her” side about a dozen dresses all hung neatly in a row and that was all. It made a lasting impression on me of simplicity.
So I had that closet picture is in the back of my mind as we weeded through all our clothes. Although it does not look at all like the conservative farmer’s closet in Pennsylvania, our closet has been freshly painted and cleaned out, and for that I am grateful.
I did get rid of my bowling shoes I had before we were married almost forty years ago – my husband and I met bowling but we never bowled much after that. It was time to get rid of the shoes!
Soon we will bring all the goods to Salvation Army and it feels good. We hope to continue to go through all the rooms in our house, but we’re in no hurry…we have the time now.