These first photos are not of my home but to me, they speak of "CLUTTER."
Next are some collections which are in my home which some might consider cluttered.
Then an article follows about how clutter can cause emotional and stress problems.
Finally, my retort to the article follows with reference to Marie Kando, a Japanese organizing consultant and author who has written four books on organizing which have cocllectiely sold millions of copies and have been translated into many languages.
(Cezanne's studio)
These are collections in my condo.
(opens in a new window)
This article talks about how a cluttered home can be a stressful home according to some researchers.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/03/well/mind/clutter-stress-procrastination-psychology.html?fbclid=IwAR1rLi6sI0LbDoRqXcN25uDNIDv4INJWO2F0AD6P6TLm9YeOwVCRLzzWl_4
I would ask, "How about "Organized Clutter?" I find mine comforting. My collections flourish in every room of the condo including bathrooms and closets. Many of my collections (105 collections to be exact) have been given to Chicago Children's Museum as part of the permanent exhibit "Michael's Museum: A Curious Collection of Tiny Treasures." I still collect for me, although more thoughtfully as I get older.
Besides organized clutter around the house, there are one or two places that do get out of hand (both behind closed closet doors,) and which I eventually de-clutter, and then begin the process again. Also, if you follow this blog, you know that the area in front of my computer collects collections on its own, without help from me and often attributed to the "Computer Elves."
Marie Kondo (now on a Netflix series called "Tyding Up With Marie Kondo") says if something no longer brings you joy, get rid of it! The problem for me is that so many little things, with no place to display or "have out," so stored in plastic shoe boxes on the shelf in a closet, still do bring me joy.
I think that if someone were to give all those stored collections away, I might not notice. I am aware that while they exist, they take up memory storage in my brain which could be put to better use! But honestly, it is easier to just not think about them. Every now and then I take a box of stuff down from the closet shelf with which to "play" and periodically resurrect an item or two to keep out for display.
I do not believe that I am attached to the "things" in an unhealthy way, often give them away when admired, and deaccession some collections every now and then. I have approached Chicago Children's Museum with a proposal to add more collections to Michael's Museum: A Curious Collection of Tiny Treasures, which has been a permanent exhibit there on Navy Pier since 2011. The proposal was accepted, budgeted by them for FY 2019, and work will soon begin on the details.
Meanwhile, I still enjoy my collections ... so I'm keepin' them ... for now! They bring me joy!
