Now that I'm officially an empty nester, my last child having decided to live this summer at her college, I have this incredible urge to "tidy up." It's like I've just woken up after my long stint with mothering (25 years), and looking around and seeing my surroundings for the first time.

I'm cringing at what I see.

When a friend mentioned to me the book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo, I read the reviews and decided to get it right away (eBook and audio book). I knew her approach–change your mindset–is exactly what I need.

Marie Kondo says that she is absolutely convinced that everyone can keep his or her space in order, and that when you do that, your whole life will change dramatically.

I'm game! (Anyone want to join me?)

So the first thing she says is, you have to thoroughly reassess your habits and assumptions about tidying.

Uh-oh.

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