SANTA MONICA, Calif. – Evolution and change are the only constants. So said many wise women and men throughout the ages.
I woke up before the alarm clock started bleating at 5:15 am. I went downstairs and made coffee. My wife was already in the kitchen cutting our morning fruit. She is very organized that way.
I sloshed the milk into my coffee and spilled it on the counter. I ripped a paper towel off the roll, wadded it up, and imagined I was Mahomes leading Kansas City to Super Bowl glory as I fired a perfect spiral into the trashcan.
I sat at the table and opened my iPad to read the morning news.
This is the early part of our morning ritual, probably not too dissimilar from yours, dear reader.
There, in front of me, was the usual doom and gloom covered by The New York Times and The Washington Post. As I scrolled through my daily dose of misery, past the stories of George Santos who represents the worst person in politics, past the misery of Ukraine, and the tragedy in Memphis, there was Marie Kondo’s smiling face.
After several years of providing guidance on how-to free oneself from the clutter one collected, Kondo is doing an almost 180. She recently shared that with the birth of her third child, cleaning up everyday is not her main concern, the Times wrote.
“My home is messy, but the way I am spending my time is the right way for me at this time at this stage of my life,” Condo said through an interpreter at a recent media webinar and virtual tea ceremony reported the Washington Post.
While some people feel this may be earth shattering news, it really shouldn’t be considering her situation. Two toddlers and a new born require Kondo’s focus and attention now. Kondo, is probably making every meal her children eat, more than likely making sure her children’s intellectual and emotional stimulation originates holistically rather than digitally, all while possibly bringing the same amount of consciousness and care to every task set before her as she and her husband raise their children.
Rather than feeling betrayed or placing misdirected anger at Kondo for seemingly abandoning all those adult-children who needed a self-help guru, perhaps Kondo should be applauded. After all, isn’t she staying true to what she has said all along – that is, by eliminating the clutter and those things that have outlived their purpose in her life, she is able to focus on what is bringing her happiness and joy. Her family.
While the media world is fickle and may question Kondo now, kondo ne, or next time, as they say in Japanese, will be Kondo’s next evolution and I’m sure people will be watching.
