But as I begin to sort through the chaos, something shifts within me. I start to see the beauty in letting go, in releasing the burdens that weigh me down. It's a liberation, a freedom from the constant distraction and clutter that fills my space.
Danshari, the art of decluttering, is not just about getting rid of stuff; it's also about releasing the emotional attachments to them.
Continuing to sort and purge ruthlessly, I start to notice the little things. The things that I don't have any use for as of today. Drawers holding bits and bobs, some duplicates of the possessions that I own, some chipped china, shelves holding curios that are faded and worn out, collections which don't evoke the same sentiments in me as they once did, items that I can do without and the ones which will gladly be used by someone else if given to the weekly charity collection.
My favourite room for decluttering is my kitchen. Boxes, empty bottles of pastes, sauces, pickles and jams washed and stored away, non edible giveaways at the supermarket promotions and empty ice-cream tubs that pile in like nobody's business.
Swooping them all into large recycling bags and binning it downstairs thrills me extensively.
Simple and spacious counters and shelves, cabinets that are not spilling over with hoarding speaks a lot about the Danshari I try to constantly maintain.
The feeling after, is that of a ‘sage smudging’, now that the heavy energies surrounding them that had overstayed in my space have finally been rid of.
On another tangent, Danshari is not just about decluttering my space; it's also about decluttering my mind. It's about letting go of the thoughts and emotions that weigh me down, the ones that keep me endlessly churning in a hamster wheel.
The wildfire that wrecks havoc as it consumes a blazing trail with no end in sight except for the past that barges in unannounced. The Danshari of my mindscape is the real tackle and I'm almost there too.
Finishing my task, surrounded by the minimalism and elegance of my newly decluttered space, I feel a sense of pride settle over me. To have succeeded in letting go of pre-loved items is an achievement. I strive daily to incorporate the essences of detachment before the staggering load swallows me.
This is not what I've come to embrace of late because of the internet trend, but one that I've been practicing at regular intervals for very many years now, even before Marie Kondo had swept us off our feet.
Danshari, although is another completely different getaway. Similar yet with differences. “If it doesn't spark joy, release it” as Marie Kondo’s tagline says is replaced aggressively with “release attachments to items and discard it if it's not a necessary fixture in my space”. And so it has been.
Winter before last I had also tried my hand at the Swedish Death Cleaning—experimenting with a small space in the spare room. The target was to fill up a bag but the activity so enthused me that I ended up instead with ten large recycling bags! And half a productive day.
I was discarding things by the bushel, now that the principle of letting go had seeped into every pore. By the time I had called it a day, it was such a glowing redemption from the fuss of emotions this medley had leached on to me. Severing those ties was a gallon of load lighter on the mind as well.
Danshari advocates three basic, easy to follow ideograms:
DAN---refuse to buy new items if not necessary.
SHA= Dispose.
RI= Separate–to sell, donate or recycle.
My journey to Danshari has been a long and arduous one. That of an iron will and steady commitment— one that requires constant attention and intention.
It's not a renouncement of worldly desires, but to be happy with less. Danshari lets the energy flow around my home like a sparkling brook without encountering wedges of glacial hodgepodge.
Danshari is indeed a hallmark of radical minimalism. Less is certainly more.
For me, the age of excesses is now passé.
Reflections:
- What are some areas in my life or physical space that feel cluttered or overwhelming?
- What are the emotional or mental benefits I hope to gain from decluttering and simplifying my life?
- What are some small steps I can take today to start decluttering and embracing a more minimalist lifestyle?
- How can I distinguish between what's truly essential or meaningful to me, and what's simply taking up space?
PIC COURTESY: PINTEREST
As someone who likes to hoard, I have been taking baby steps to let go of unwanted stuff in my physical space. Of course, when I do clean, I tend to get rid of quite a lot like you, so guess things balance out well. :) Good post, Sangeetha.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this post. I am finally in a state of Danshari, and it's making a huge difference in my life. It started with a goal of just throwing out ten pieces of old mail/papers a day, and has turned into pulling everything from and organizing closets and cupboards.
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