Out of Chaos an organizing newsletter

Past, Present, Future

In Goodbye, Things, author Fumio Sasaki spends a lot of time telling us that our things are getting in the way of us being fully present in the here and now. He tells us, as I’ve often told you, to let go of the stuff from the past and to stop saving stuff for “someday,” which may or may not arrive—another point I’ve made to clients many times. And yet, maybe Mr. Sasaki is too extreme in his minimalism. Sure, you don’t want to be stuck in the past. But is it so wrong to have some touchstones that remind you of special moments in your life or keep you connected to your family history? At the same time, it’s just as important to keep an eye on “someday” in the future, whether that means taking the SAT, buying Long Term Care insurance, or planning an epic trip.

How much is reasonable? Finding that that sweet spot is the trick.

A client called me recently because she wants to empty her storage space of all her family silver. Her daughters don’t want it, so she’s planning to sell it or give it away. It just so happens that her daughters are also my clients, and I hope it doesn’t make me a bad organizer to say I urged her to ask them one more time. It’s not that I want them to take it all—who needs a silver tea service? But I do sometimes feel that maybe one day the grandchildren might find it cool that those fancy spoons once belonged to their great, great, grandma. Holding onto a few items that you can integrate into your everyday life but connects you to your past can make your home warmer and more individualistic without being cluttered or fussy.

On the other hand, I always urge clients to let go of art supplies that are gathering dust, or folders bursting with ancient clippings about trips they might take. When you have a lot of something it becomes invisible, like background noise, and you never do the thing, you never make the art. It’s different if you have a clear, specific intention, like a trip to Greece in the summer of 2022. Then, start a folder, perhaps a bright blue one, for that great article on Crete that you tore out of Conde Nast Traveler? Get those dates on the calendar. Working toward a goal can make life feel more meaningful. You don’t want to be so “in the moment” that you never make a plan. After all, some of the best things in life require planning.

It’s great to be fully present in the moment. And it is true, you probably have everything you need and more. But I think that we can stand in today, looking toward the future with our hand resting lightly on the past, knowing where we came from and where we are headed. Find the sweet spot, where you can let go of enough that you aren’t burdened, but not so much that you are untethered.