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One of the things Marie Kondo suggests with her “Spark Joy” Konmari method is to hold each thing we own and ask ourselves, “Does this spark joy?” If it doesn’t, we let it go.

Holding ourselves responsible for our own joy is important and not allowing our possessions to is also. The real value to this question though, is that it opens the door to awareness and allows us to make conscious choices about what we fill our lives with and also, why.

Perhaps we should be asking ourselves if what we do sparks joy in other areas as well.

• How we spend our time
• What we do with our money
• Commitments we make to others
• Our schedules and calendars
• What we do when we have free time
• Our relationships, friendships, and alliances

By letting go of things that no longer serve us and focusing on what brings us joy, our lives become richer and more meaningful.

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Reflecting on this awesome lesson today. Personally, I’ll always choose to fill my life with flowers. They are pure joy. But what else? What else to keep filling with and what to release…?

PINME

From Linda Luke’s How to Spark Joy in All Areas of Your Life.

Flowers by The Pink Daffodil.

As an artist, I am constantly filled with this deep desire to create.

Often I won’t recognize this, and so I’ll trudge through my day with a longing who’s name and purpose elude me. It can weigh me down and harbor notions of inadequacy and dissatisfaction. I’ll find myself feeling lost.

So I wander.

Then I reach an understanding. It is not me. It is not hormones. It is that hunger, that delightful determination to make this world better. Thank God for it. For even when it brings me down for a few moments, it always elevates me again. Higher, lighter, stronger with the darkness subdued, I go out and do something. All I have to do is dial in, click the shutter a few times and I see the Light with a little more appreciation, look at our world with a little more respect and produce something that shares some of the Goodness.

I’m honored to carry this craving every day. Because what are we here for if not to do some Good for one another?

 PINME

I read an article recently where a woman reflects on the culture in Portugal, their efficient use of energy and the way they air their laundry. Interesting, I thought, and went about my day.

Then I took a long walk through the lovely community of San Clemente. Delighting in the quaint bungalows and simple structures by the sea, I was surprised to see one lone balcony on an apartment complex with three bright colored beach towels hung to dry. Odd, as they were the only towels to be seen for miles and commonly there are ordinances against that. I’ve lived in such communities and know others to have rules prohibiting the hanging of clothing out to dry.

Which got me thinking. Why is it such a big deal for us to air our dirty laundry? Sure it speckles the pristine view of homes and landscape lines, but is that such a bad thing? I remember thinking while in Italy that the laundry draped between buildings was beautiful. Then I think about Penelope’s post on Portugal and how conscious they are about their energy consumption and I wonder, how twisted are our values over here in the States? Or is it just California, where there are so many people they have to enforce so many rules so we don’t stomp all over one another, crushing false hopes and never to be attained dreams.

Or is it that we are so self conscious, that we can’t bear the thought of airing our dirty laundry in front of others? And we certainly don’t want to see yours. Let’s just all pretend to get along, okay? Let’s just pretend that we look as good on the inside as we make it appear on the outside.

But perhaps I’m judging and assuming more than I should. Perhaps there are many good reasons why Southern Californian’s don’t air their laundry outside. If we did though, we might all have a little more good energy and clean conscience on the inside.

PINME

Sienna, Italia. October, 2011.