Marie Kondo – Cindy Hval

When two columnists pick the same topic and their columns run consecutively, the universe might be trying to tell you something.

Last week, Stefanie Pettit wrote about going through their home and purging things they no longer need or use. Her husband’s retirement sparked the reorg, and she admitted it’d been a couple of decades since their last great purge.

I don’t think we have as many closets as the Pettits, or maybe I’m just a compulsive sorter, organizer, giver-awayer. I keep a large bag in the spare room, and when I come across something we no longer want or need, I pop it in the bag. When it fills, I grab another. Then I deliver the donations to one of two places: the Goodwill store near my home, or Next Chapter Home, a nonprofit co-founded by my friend Lerria. More on that later.

Long before decluttering pro Marie Kondo advocated the KonMari Method, which advises keeping only possessions that “spark joy,” a good friend gave me life-changing advice. She followed the “something in, something out” rule.

To wit: If you add something to your home or wardrobe, get rid of something else. (Disclaimer: I’ve never been able to apply this principle to books. But household items, clothes, and shoes? Absolutely).

Recently, I relinquished a pair of satin evening shoes with kitten heels and sparkly rhinestone clasps.

I slid my feet into the classic beauties and winced. Golly, did those narrow toes pinch! Instead of walking gracefully in them, I wobbled woefully. Into the donation bag they went, where they joined a trio of sweaters I didn’t wear and had grown weary of seeing. I went shopping and bought three new ones.

Then I said so long to a perfectly good Pepto-Bismol pink pullover (the color looked better in-store), a baggy scoop-neck leopard print and a heavy green cable-knit sweater.

Wearing the new items sparks joy, as does imagining that donated clothing may be just what a Goodwill shopper is looking for.

Our oldest son is an administrative support specialist with Goodwill’s workforce and family services. From him, I learned that proceeds from the thrift stores fund community-based programs, focusing on job training, employment placement services, as well as specialized programs for veterans, individuals with disabilities, at-risk youth, and those transitioning from incarceration or homelessness.

An announcement from our youngest son ignited a flurry of long-delayed redecorating, prompting more purging.

Sam is bringing his fiancée home to meet us this spring!

We hadn’t gotten around to painting his room after he moved to Texas, mainly because the walls needed some major TLC thanks to staples and sticky tack damage.

Our contractor will tackle that project because my husband has his hands full.

Ten years ago, the spare room across the hall had become a repository for all of the stuff Derek removed from our closet when he built a walk-in closet in our bedroom. He created a lovely space, but never got around to painting it, adding a pocket door, or installing a closet system. But there’s nothing as motivating as a meet the future daughter-in-law deadline! Soon, we’ll actually have a usable guest room. Well, after new flooring and paint.

Next Chapter Home provided the perfect place to donate the bedding, fleece blankets, and throw pillows that had migrated to Sam’s closet and the spare room over the years.

The organization partners with local charitable groups to provide home goods and furnishings for newly housed persons. A lovely showroom offers a personalized shopping experience for those embarking on a fresh start in their own space.

On Saturday, I dropped off the freshly laundered items. I got teary when I pictured an excited kiddo spotting Sam’s pillowy soft “Star Wars” comforter and wrapping up in its warmth.

It got me thinking about the things we give away. I wonder if they say as much about us as the things we keep.

More information

Find your nearest Goodwill location at discovergoodwill.org.

Next Chapter Home accepts donations 10 a.m.–2 p.m. on the first Friday and third Saturday of each month at 4718 N. Ash St. Donations can also be scheduled by calling (509) 859-8545. Please check their Facebook page (nextchapterspokane) or website, nextchapterhome.org, to learn about donation needs.

Author Lisa Kleypas famously wrote, “A well-read woman is a dangerous creature.”

If that’s true then there were at least a dozen dangerous creatures at Lilac City Law on Friday night. No, we weren’t seeking legal representation. Our only crime was loving books maybe a little too much.

I blame Marie Kondo. My friend Sarah, fell under the organizing guru’s sway and launched an epic tidy-up, de-clutter spree.

I’m all for jettisoning clothes no longer worn, dated household decor and duplicates of kitchen items. As a newlywed, I was given a piece of advice that has served me well while rearing four sons in a cramped house. My friend told me to follow the “something in, something out” rule. Buy a new blouse? Get rid of an old one. Your kid gets a new toy? Donate one he no longer plays with.

While it’s kept our clutter at a minimum I draw the line at books.

There’s no way the “something in, something out” rule could ever apply to books. Why, choosing which volumes to jettison would be like choosing which kid you no longer love. It seems positively immoral.

It’s not even that I buy a lot of books. I don’t. I’m a devoted library groupie and every month I check out a new stack of books. But sometimes I fall in love with a novel and I simply must possess it, so I can read it again.

And as an author, I’m a huge believer in supporting other local authors. I love to line my bookshelves with titles by Inland Northwest authors. Every book purchase says, “Good job! I believe in you! Write another one!”

Of course, friends and family know I’m a bibliophile, and delight in feeding my addiction on my birthday, or Christmas, or sometimes just because they spot something they think I’d enjoy.

I don’t keep every book I buy or that’s given to me. If it’s by an author I didn’t enjoy or something I don’t want to read again, I stick it in the “donate” bag in my closet. But to be honest, few books make it to the bag.

Then Sarah started Kondo-sizing her library by posting photos of her books on Facebook and offering them free to a good home.

Such a great idea! It took the guesswork out of trying to figure out which friends would like which book, it was more personal than a thrift store drop, plus she got to experience the joy of re-homing a volume with someone she knows.

Then her friend Randi Johnson saw the posts and offered to expand the idea to a wider audience by hosting a book swap at her downtown law office and the Well-Read Women Book Swap was born.

The idea was simple. Bring in whatever books you’re willing to part with and maybe discover some you’d like to take home. Whatever books were left would be donated to the Friends of Spokane Public Library.

Friday night we gathered at Lilac City Law. Randi provided light snacks, wine and soda, and well-read women met, mingled and browsed the book table set up in a conference room.

A delightful variety of novels, nonfiction, children’s books, bestsellers and old-favorites spilled across the table.

Though I promised myself I wouldn’t bring anything home, I spotted “The Magpie Murders” by Anthony Horowitz. It’s been on my to-read list since it came out. I had to have it.

Then I picked up “George and Lizzie” a novel by librarian/author Nancy Pearl, who just happens to be coming to Spokane to appear with local author Sharma Shields at the Bing Crosby Theater on March 13.

Finally, I saw “The Collected Poems of Sylvia Plath.” I discovered Plath my freshman year of college and her dark, brooding, confessional poetry perfectly resonated with the dark, brooding persona I was trying on at the time.

Sarah, noting the Plath collection in my hand, asked, “Does that spark joy?”

One of Kondo’s most well-known tenets is “The best way to choose what to keep and what to throw away is to take each item in one’s hand and ask: ‘Does this spark joy?’ If it does, keep it. If not, dispose of it.”

I held the book and remembered my earnest 19-year-old self.

“Yes” I said. “Yes, it does.”

The inaugural “Well-Read Women Book Swap” turned out to be a fabulous event – one I hope dangerous creatures all over the city will replicate.

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