I was texting with a friend last night about Christmas decorating and she casually mentioned once inheriting a box of tacky (but-not-in-a-charming-way) ornaments which she labeled in permanent marker, “things I keep out of guilt.” While the honesty made me laugh, I haven’t been able to shake the concept. I keep wondering, how many things do we have cluttering up our shelves, attic corners and headspace, simply out of obligation? Of course, I’m not recommending you cause a family rift or dispose of valuable family heirlooms, but I do think the idea is worth exploring – at least internally. There’s a reason why Marie Kondo’s approach to purging has been so widely received – sometimes we just need permission to let things go.
Are there things in your home directly affecting your joy, coziness or peace of mind? What are you holding onto that’s actually working against feeling restful in your own home? What would happen if you considered doing something different? ‘Tis the season for comfort AND joy, after all.