It’s cleansing to clear out your shelves

IT WAS fascinating to discover that my little moan last week — about going to buy mascara and finding too much choice – struck such a chord.

Through social media I learned how many people feel the same: that our lives are intolerably cluttered. But please don’t think I’m one of those people keen on the Marie Kondo craze for de-cluttering.

The Japanese author believes that you should focus on what makes you happy — and only keep those things. That, she says, is the secret of a tidy life.

Well, if she were to set foot in our cluttered house she’d conclude I am either exaggeratedly, overflowingly happy — or bonkers. Maybe both!

I like pictures, books, artefacts . . . in other words stuff. My comments about cosmetics, shampoos etc were about using up resources. Look at all the plastic bottles and packages. We don’t need so much choice.

A bar of soap is a better cleanser than shower gel — and it’s cleansing to clear your shelves from time to time.

Marie Kondo is partly inspired by the Shinto religion which sees cleanliness and tidiness as a part of spiritual practice. Kondo says: ‘Treasuring what you have; treating the objects you own as not disposable, but valuable, no matter their actual worth; and creating displays so you can value each object are essentially Shinto ways of living.’

That I do understand. So I spent a day filling a large box with really good things to give away. In it went eight pairs of heels I no longer want to wear. Three scarves. Three floaty tops. About 20 bangles — all worn with clanking delight once, but no longer my taste.

So many pairs of earrings I gave up counting: all mended (when necessary) and cleaned and put into little bags. Ditto some necklaces which I carefully boxed.

There was nothing with sentimental value, but the objects had all given me pleasure and would now raise money for a local hospice. And, yes, my spirit does feel lighter.