Conclusion

This post is part of a series on my trip to Japan.

Japan is beautiful, culturally rich (I mean, they have Shintoism, samurais, and Hello Kitty?), very safe, and has great public transit; it’s much more affordable than I thought; the people are very nice and helpful with tourists. I loved visiting all those temples and speaking with monks!

Photo courtesy of KonMari Media, Inc.

In Marie Kondo’s own words about our retreat, “these experiences may provide you with a new perspective to understand the ‘why’ behind the KonMari Method.” And I feel like that is true! It goes beyond just noticing glimmers and appreciating the moment – living a life with kurashi means intentionally building your life around what you want. You don’t just appreciate the smell of coffee, you actively make a ritual out of preparing your morning cup, every day.

Kurashi roughly translates to “way of life” or “lifestyle” and is an integral part of the KonMari® Method. Yes, a Certified KonMari® Consultant can certainly help you tidy your home, but it’s more than that, it’s helping you achieve your ideal lifestyle.  For example, my most recent tidying festival client wanted a comfortable spot to sit and read. She did have a comfortable chair, but it was covered in clothes, and there were piles of stuff all around it, making it inaccessible. I helped her pare back on the clothes so that everything fit on hangers or in drawers, and we decluttered the floor and the rest of the room. Now, she has much more empty space – not because she didn’t like her stuff, but because her stuff was getting in the way of the life she wanted!

It's also been pointed out to us by Tiffany Gozali, the Director of the Consultant Program, that how we feel about monks is how our clients feel about their KonMari® Consultant. You see, we had the opportunity to speak with several Buddhist monks during this trip, and many in our group, myself included, felt drawn to them and wanted to spend more time with them. Was it their energy? Some sort of impalpable aura? The interesting conversations? The fact that they seem to have it all figured out, like they have reached enlightenment? And that is how many people feel the same way about their KonMari® consultant! That is what we represent to clients who are beginning their tidying journey. I hadn’t seen it that way up until then, but it makes some sense! Let me know what you think in the comments.