Less | Smile, Breathe, and Go Slowly

Today is Carolyn’s first official link-up for our 2023 words! Please visit her and all of the other one little worders sharing their reflections this week. I’m really excited about my word (Less) because I feel like it gives me a ton of flexibility. Yes — my main goals are less clutter, less spending, and less waste — but there are months when I need to do less and to worry less. Those needs can also be met by paying attention to my one little word. Writing today’s update has given me an opportunity to reframe and laugh at my word a little bit, which I definitely needed!

This is already my third blog post on my word this year, so you can see how much it has been on my mind. In my post last week, so many of you assured me that I wasn’t the only one with piles and stacks to sort through on the daily. You also reminded me that there is simply more clutter when there are small children in the house – and thank you! But my ultimate vindication came when Matthew shared this tweet with me:

VINDICATION IS MINE. pic.twitter.com/YkWAMEg4di

— Joshua “Daddy Apron” Berwald (@joshua_boe) January 27, 2023

I have to admit that my first feeling about this is that I’ve been betrayed. I trusted Marie Kondo! I have spent years rereading her books and being assured that anyone can be tidy. And now she’s given up in her own life?! And then I remembered that she’s a human who has spent her life trying to help people spark joy, without judgment or condemnation of their messy lives. I could use a little less self-judgment in my own messy life!

I tried to read the original interview with Washington Post but it was behind a paywall. But I did find this article from Romper that summarized the original piece. (I also learned that Marie Kondo has a new book out!) I loved this paragraph of the Romper article:

‘But in this latest interview, Kondo talks about the fact that giving up on one area doesn’t mean you’ve failed: her concept of kurashi, which roughly translates to “way of life,” is bigger than a clean kitchen. Rather than focus on a perfectly organized home, which may not be realistic for some people and especially parents, she’s encouraging readers to lean into little rituals that can create a sense of peace and joy: taking time for tea, for example, or just looking at something you love. Enjoying family time is another item that takes priority over folding laundry or filing papers. “My home is messy, but the way I am spending my time is the right way for me at this time at this stage of my life,” she says. She later continues, “Now I realize what is important to me is enjoying spending time with my children at home.”’ – Romper

Focus on rituals? I can do that. Here’s a few rituals that help me get through my day:

• Early morning writing and coffee
• Weekly Dunkin trips after story time
• Dance parties in the kitchen with the kids before heading upstairs for the evening (Bad Romance is Bryce’s favorite, Party in the USA is Bronwyn’s favorite, Colton prefers Zoe Deschanel’s Winnie the Pooh songs, and I can dance to any Walker Hayes or Old Dominion song {actually, I can dance to anything. Blog post forthcoming.}).
• Reading with my children before bed
• Drinking green tea while planning out our homeschooling day

(I am tempted to write about rituals I’d like to incorporate into my day, but that would mean adding more and not less!)

I still want to cut back on the clutter and try to make every day a little less overwhelming, but I’m going to take Thich Nhat Hanh’s advice: smile, breathe, and go slowly. There’s no need to make everyone miserable, including myself, in the process. I’ve been reminded countless times that decluttering is something one must do throughout their entire life. The best thing I can do right now is to limit what could add to the clutter, which goes back to my original mantra: less clutter, less spending, less waste. If I keep that at the top of my mind when I’m deciding whether or not to buy something, that will take me pretty far.

What are some semi-daily rituals that spark joy in your own life? I’d love to hear about them.