The benefits of clutter.

I’m not talking about a cluttered mind. I’m referring to our attachment to material things. Our need to keep more and be rid of less.

It goes against everything the mindfulness, spiritual and living-in-the-moment movements purport.

More than ever before, we’re clinging to the past. Trinkets, photos, childhood and collected books, wrong-sized clothing, unfinished and needing-to-be-repaired (but never quite) items that distract, and more importantly, remind us that things were different and most often better. Then.

Sparsity is akin to boredom. An event without a personality or layers. Clutter is rich, playful, disorganised, and keeps us occupied and hopeful.

So, I’m going to cross ‘sort out the pantry and linen cupboard’ off my to do list and write ‘read the first ten pages of every book on the shelves’, ‘colour-code the towels and linen’ and ‘make crazy meals from the odd (almost-forgotten, pushed to the back) food stuffs in the pantry.’

Enjoy your clutter and have some fun!