Why Marie Kondo deserves a humanitarian award

Living with less is not about poverty or making do, it’s about reclaiming your time

Mo' fashion, mo' clothing, mo' laundry, mo' problems, image credit: Shutterstock

Marie Kondo, a tidying expert and the minimalist movement both deserve humanitarian awards. I have always been a light thrifter; I appreciate a designer find from time to time. But there's a whole new level of gratitude unlocked when you go from thrifting for a hobby to thrifting as a necessity.

In 2020, my family and I moved out of state. After looking at the cost of moving our belongings and considering that we had not found a permanent living arrangement, I made the decision to leave most of our belongings behind and start fresh in the new city.

Within months of the move, my marriage ended, and I found myself underemployed with rent deposits, the cost of replenishing my wardrobe and furnishing a new apartment, as well as legal bills. It was one of the most expensive times in my life.

During this time, thrifting wasn't just cathartic but a dire need. My apartment is nearly 90% thrifted or secondhand furniture, and my closet was probably 95% thrifted. I found some good stuff, brand-name, designer clothing and household items in perfect condition. I often wondered, "Why would someone give all these items in perfect condition away?"  Sometimes items would still have tags on them.  In moments where I would find something that felt luxurious, it felt like a blessing was placed strategically along my path to give me a glimpse of light during what felt dark. I never gave it a second thought that my thrift finds could be related to the living with less, minimalist movement, until the decluttering bug bit me.

I used to wonder “who would give away these items in perfect condition?” Now I know: me. image credit: Shutterstock  

I'm a strong believer in the power of fashion and intentionally decorated environments to shift your mood, boost your confidence and improve the quality of life. According to Dr. Joel Frank, a licensed clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist at Duality Psychological Services, “a well-designed environment can help us relax and restore, but it can also sharpen our minds, enhance our creativity and put us in a good mood.” Being well dressed can lead to confidence boosts that improve your social interactions, which can lead to life-changing events like career opportunities, marriage and friendships. 

Despite how shallow people may believe it to be, looks matter to us and to the outside world. How you dress can influence how you are perceived, treated and even whether or not, you can access employment. Shout out to the thrifted Ann Taylor suit that I wore when I landed my highest-paid position to date.

After landing that job, I no longer "needed" the thrift store. I thrifted for hobby and on occasion. Because of my love for fashion and a good deal, I ended up with way more clothes than I needed. I also ended up with more clothes than I ever desired to fold.

I ran across a decluttering course that was speaking my language; less stuff equals less cleaning. Less cleaning equals more quality time with the people and activities you love. The presenter stated, "If you don't have seven baskets of clothing, you can't ever have seven baskets of laundry." That was a lightbulb moment for me. In that moment, I realized that the minimalist lifestyle could give me back more time, but I wasn't explicitly thinking about how it helped the environment and people in need.

In a world of fast fashion where clothes can be doused in harmful chemicals and produced hellish working conditions, to be made affordable, thrift stores give people of all economic backgrounds an opportunity to find quality goods that are good for their bodies and good for the planet.

As I embraced the Marie Kondo lifestyle, of only keeping items in my home that “spark joy,” I went through my closet and my children's closets. The answer to my question about “who would give away these items in perfect condition?” Me. People like me who are in a better position in life, started to accumulate things as an outward expression of it. Only to conclude that joy can't be found in stuff. I was packing things into the donation box that the recently divorced me would have loved to find. And it felt full circle, living with less is about spreading access to beauty, luxury and fashion as much as it is about reclaiming your time.