I don’t typically gravitate towards nonfiction. I don’t dislike it, I just tend to read before bed and want the grown up version of a nice bedtime story. When I found out I was having hip surgery, I started making a list of all the nonfiction books I’ve always been curious about. Out of curiosity, I read The Life-Changing magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo since you can’t read any organizing tips without the book being referenced. After being convinced by many coworkers, I decided to also pick up Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis. Surprisingly, both books brought peace to my life that I didn’t know was missing. Read on to find out how!
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up
I will start off with saying that I am not about to KonMari my life. I am all about decluttering and keeping less stuff but I found some of her tactics a little extreme. What gave me peace was found at the end of chapter 2. Kondo is really big on thanking the objects that are being discarded. But what I found revolutionary was how she suggested to thank clothing you have hardly warn.
Stay with me here. I have a closet full of clothes and I am very careful about what I add to it. But I have always struggled with getting rid of something that is still in good condition and fits, but I no longer care to wear. Maybe it’s because I grew so fast growing up I never got sick of my clothes because I always outgrew them. But as an adult, I have really struggled with justifying getting rid of something that is perfectly good. Kondo put it in such a lovely way, “Not all clothes have come to you to be worn threadbare.” She encourages you to thank clothing for just teaching you that it isn’t to your liking. How freeing is that?!
Girl, Wash Your Face
Rachel Hollis is famous. But I honestly had no idea who she was or about her book until one lunch in January. I was highly encouraged to read her book. I had no idea what it was really about when I opened it but I am so glad I did. Every chapter is a lie Hollis let herself believe. I would say all women have also believed a lot of these lies. “I’m not good enough.” “I need a drink.” And “I am defined by my weight.” Hollis explains the stories behind each lie and at the end of every chapter gives a few things she did to overcome it.
As I was reading the book, I started keeping a list of my own lies I believe. This is an amazing exercise! It really makes you ask why you believe it in the first place. Some things might go deep from something someone said in middle school. Others might be “smaller” lies but still affect you in certain situations. I won’t share some bigger ones of mine but the first one I wrote down was that I need to please everyone before myself. Another is one that I have been told repeatedly over the last few years: that I can’t really know what it’s like to be tired because I’m not a mother. I have suffered a long time with iron issues and my energy levels do change with my lab results.
So if you have a cute outfit you’re no longer wanting to wear, it’s okay to get rid of it. And if you have lies you are letting yourself believe, dig down deep and find the reason why you let yourself believe them. Clear your closet, clear your mind. It’s all about balance. ❤️
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