Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Can I give it 10 stars? This book has legitimately changed my life by starting with what I have in my house. My house was so full of things that we held onto for whatever reason (mostly guilt) for so long that I actually had to take medication to live there - literally. I felt so much anxiety and overwhelm and depression when I was at home - I thought something was wrong with my marriage, I thought I wasn't cut out to be a mother, and all around, life sucked - and it's all because we owned too much stuff. I never felt like I could ever get ahead of the messes and the piles and the cupboards full of things, and this resulted in me doing absolutely nothing at all, which compounded the problems. My sinks were always piled up with dishes. There was always a pile of paper on the counter "to be dealt with another day". There were always at least 5 laundry baskets heaped full of clean clothes that needed to be folded, and a laundry room full of dirty stuff to be washed. I just could NOT keep up. I blamed my husband for not helping. I blamed my kids for dragging things out and never putting them back. I blamed myself for taking on too many projects outside of the house. I never once blamed having too much stuff as being the problem. The idea that I needed to go through my belongings and keep only what I loved never occurred to me. I couldn't get rid of that item over there b/c great-grandma gave it to me before she passed and throwing it away means I don't love her anymore. I couldn't give this other item away b/c my mother-in-law gave it to me and she'll ask about it if she doesn't see it when she comes over again. I couldn't throw that thing I never used in the trash b/c I spent a ton of money on it. I couldn't donate my kids' toys b/c my heart hurt at the thought of getting rid of it and then one of them asking for it... The problem continued to grow - all because of guilt! Marie's method of only holding onto things that actually bring you joy and make your heart flutter might sound like common sense to some, but the guilt of getting rid of things that others have given you or that you spent hard earned money on wasn't something I could contend with - until I read this book. This book is a game changer! Marie's words spoke volumes to me. Keeping something you'd spent $50 on six years ago and never used does not bring the money back - it just gives you one more burden to carry... Unload that burden and let someone else enjoy your item. The money is spent - let it go. Keeping that sweater your mother-in-law gave you that you never wore b/c it's itchy? Pass it along to someone who enjoys itchy sweaters. Keeping the millions of coloring book pictures your young children scribbled on 3 years ago does not keep them young. They're going to grow up anyway - keep the ones that you love, frame them, hang them, and enjoy them - recycle the rest. It really is quite simple, but it wasn't possible until someone told me it was ok to let those things go. If they don't bring you immediate joy when you look at them, they don't deserve a spot in your home. Thanks to Marie, I have taken three pick-up truck loads to Goodwill. I have overloaded my city's garbage and recycling bins 10 times over. I have FINALLY released the guilt of discarding items I do not love - I feel calm in my house now. I don't feel anxious or overwhelmed or depressed. Dishes no longer pile up in the sink - the sinks are cleared, cleaned and wiped dry each evening. Laundry is washed, dried, folded and put away within hours instead of weeks. My kids now know what it feels like to be able to play in their bedrooms - and are able to find all the pieces that go with a particular toy. My house feels lighter, airier, and brighter. It feels really nice. I highly recommend this book to anyone who's ever struggled with the guilt of letting things go. I've tried many organizational programs and bought countless storage devices to keep it all contained but all I really needed to buy was this book. As cliché as it sounds, the book truly did change my life and I am so grateful.