My name is Trista. I’m an introverted book-lover with an unashamed anime and cosplay obsession. Tidying my home with the KonMari Method opened the doors towards my dream life.
Don’t roll your eyes. It’s true, and I’ll explain why.
Growing up, I was the painfully shy kid who considered my stuffed animals my best friends because I was too intimidated to make many friends at school. I knew this was ‘odd’, but it was how I found comfort in situations I didn’t know how to deal with.
I preferred to spend my free time writing my own stories and drawing my own badass anime character versions of myself (what up, early Toonami!). And I had never been happier or, weirdly, more confident.
As life continued, I graduated and moved into my own apartment. Overtime at work, trips to the grocery store, and washing mountains of dishes took over. Writing and drawing fell to the wayside. I hid my stuffed animals in closets and my action figures in cardboard boxes out of shame. I told myself it was time to grow up, and the adult world had no place for these things anymore. Childhood was over. It was time to be practical.
In my 20’s, I began to spiral. I worked jobs that stretched my limits and forced me to be someone I was not; an aggressive, numbers-driven, hyperactive sales employee. Every day felt like I was walking on pins and needles. My heart began to race faster and faster on the daily. My stomach hurt all the time. Panic attacks in bathrooms were common. I’d think about the little girl I used to be, how happy and carefree she was when she was in her element, then force back tears realizing she was nowhere to be found.
To relieve my nerves, I decluttered and organized my apartment, thinking that maybe I would feel at peace if my home felt ‘perfect’. It became an obsession. Each day after work, I’d go through every closet, every box, and decide if there was anything to throw away or rearrange. Whether there was or not, it didn’t make a difference. Nothing calmed me down entirely. Everything felt so incomplete.
I had read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo a few years prior, but beyond thinking it was a cute idea, I hadn’t done anything with the information. That particular copy ended up at Goodwill. Now, nearing my 30th birthday, something inside of me pulled me to purchase another copy.
This time I read it front to back, absorbing everything and becoming emotional with how much I could relate. I resonated with the constant sense of gratitude and sending happy energy to my things, almost giving them a personality of their own. I tidied my apartment in the method she advised, by category instead of by room, and by choosing only items that sparked joy when I held them. I listened to my body and my senses instead of what my brain thought I was “supposed” to do.
Marie talked about prioritizing what you truly love in life, and envisioning your ideal lifestyle with zero boundaries. She suggested putting the things you love out in the open instead of hiding them away. She insisted that once the method was complete, you could use that same mantra of prioritizing joy in the rest of your life.
I pulled my remaining stuffed animals out of hiding and displayed them. I placed all of my figurines on shelves in the living room and stopped caring who would see them. I hung my cosplay costumes and wigs in my closet instead of boxing them. By following the method, I was able to hone in on what I truly wanted to focus my time and energy on, and what I was currently lying to myself about.
I felt a wave of gratitude once this was finished. I felt lighter. The anxiety of constantly feeling like my apartment wasn’t “complete” lifted. In the days and weeks that followed, I no longer had the urge to go through everything I owned. There was a sense of finality at last.
It’s been a few years since tidying my home, and I have applied this method to every area of my life. I learned to prioritize writing, reading, and drawing again. I fully embrace all the “weird” things in my life that I love. I feel 100% like me, and I have learned how to tailor everything I do to make sure the end result brings me joy.
With this newfound clarity and confidence, I moved into an apartment complex that had once been a “someday” idea. I transitioned to work that feeds into my strengths rather than forcing me to be what I’m not, and I take care of my mind and body by doing what I love. When I discovered that it was possible to be certified as a KonMari consultant and help others in the same way I learned, I became passionate about making it happen.
I had a LOT of guidance on this journey from multiple mentors who helped me find answers and purpose within myself. Along the way I have become a certified life coach, spiritual coach, and Reiki Master. I feel that the energy within the home and within the body plays a huge role in the quality of your life.
So much happens during our child and adult lives that shifts us from the people we are meant to be. Your body gives you so many clues to tell you that you need to get back on track. It’s absolutely possible to find your way back to a life that makes you excited to get out of bed each morning. Yes, you can have complete confidence in yourself and learn how to become a person you’d be best friends with.
I would love to show you how.
“The question of what you want to own is actually the question of how you want to live your life.”