Tidying Up

I love a mess. - Marie Kondo, Tidying Up

Multiple co-workers encouraged me to watch the Netflix series, “Tidying Up”. I responded, “Like the book? There is a show?” I do not have cable and I only subscribed to Netflix last month. I found myself home sick last Friday and decided to see what all the excitement was about. I was moved by Marie’s gentleness and humility in the process of uncovering the vulnerable physical messes of these families. She takes pause before beginning the process to introduce herself to the house. The families notably think it’s a strange moment and yet, they all take pause too and are generally surprised by the impact of a short moment of reflection.

Vulnerability is a trendy topic. I think it’s often framed as how can we be more vulnerable. I had a moment of insight a few weeks ago - we are vulnerable. We are vulnerable. One hundred percent vulnerable. Rather than framing it as how can we be more, I am choosing to focus on how can I wake up to the ways in which I protect myself from vulnerability exposure. Two things have come from this process: 1) gratitude for the ways in which I care for my fragile humanity and 2) a deeper understanding of the ways in which I guard my vulnerability when maybe I no longer need to. The flip side of vulnerability is protection and we need that too.

I equate vulnerability with the messiness that is my life. So when Marie Kondo’s enthusiasm for messes is so genuinely expressed, my brow line furrows in confusion. After working through the pieces of this in very nonlinear, visceral ways, I think Marie Kondo loves the potential that messes exude. The potential for something new, more supportive, more stable, etc. She understands the natural laws, because she allows for the mess to expand before it is contained. She’s a master!

This is a friendly reminder: you are a vulnerable human doing the best you can in this moment.

I love you.