The Struggle & Joys of a Closet Cleanout

Yes, it's a rollercoaster of emotions and that's part of the thrill

I wrote a closet cleanout story for Vogue Philippines, a 1500 word article on my tried and tested decluttering tips. These tips were borne out of the wisdom I have gathered from 5 years of helping my clients tidy their closet, successfully, if I may add. *wink wink*

Seeing my story, my friend Monique shared with me this thoughtful piece in The New Yorker written by Ann Patchett on the struggles and joys of tidying. Monique said this was an article she wishes she wrote herself. After reading it, I agree, I wish I had documented my own tidying journey as expressively. Here’s an excerpt:

“What I had didn’t surprise me half as much as how I felt about it: the unexpected shame that came from owning seven mixing bowls, the guilt over never having made good use of the electric juicer my mother had given me, and, strangest of all, my anthropomorphism of inanimate objects—how would those plastic plates with pictures of chickadees on them feel when they realized they were on their way to the basement?”

Tidying has its highs and lows. A lot of guilt, shame and fear in the beginning but as the clutter clears and you see the light at the end of the tunnel (the things we own are finite, even if that closet feels like a black hole) uncomfortable emotions fade and make way for relief, a feeling of lightness, peace and yes, that much promised joy.

It also brings about much needed clarity. As you hone your ability to sense joy in your things, you will begin to see things as they really are.

“I found little things that had become important over time for no reason other than that I’d kept them for so long: a small wooden rocking horse that a high-school friend had brought me from Japan; two teeth that had been extracted from my head before I got braces, at thirteen; a smooth green stone that looked like a scarab—I couldn’t remember where it had come from. I got rid of them all.”

This, I believe is the true gift of tidying. It forces us to be honest to ourselves. It gives us the mindset and the ability to see things past the fear, guilt and expectations that burden them. Because when we make that decision to finally tidy that closet, after years of making excuses, we are choosing ourselves above all.