Harmonious Simplicity

Kelly is a young, ambitious Interior Designer who seems to be having a quarter life crisis, and therefore is finding herself in a fork in a road kind of position. Life is overwhelming, combined with the added pressure to keep her head just above water in her work, as well as being unable to keep her one-bedroom apartment as clean as she would like it to be. Appearing to be successful on the outside, Kelly is craving the simple life, where peace and tranquility would be the by-product of such. Enjoying some rest on a mixed-weather of a weekend; Kelly finds an art deco like bookstore, and decides to grab a cup of joe by the window-side at the shops cafe. From there, Kelly finds inspiration in finding a Marie Kondo book to help her identify the things that bring, and that no longer brings joy during the tidying up process. A decluttering situation is the ace card here.

Kelly is inspired as to how simple it is to identify the items that once brought her joy, and that no longer bring her such. There is some exhaustion during this tried and true process that many vouch for. Each and every room in her apartment, from the laundry to the bedroom is a metaphor for each area of her life. All it takes is one room at a time, and leaving the sentimentalities for last. This makes sense for Kelly, in gaining confidence in her abilities to give every item a home, and only hanging onto those items that spark joy and happiness.

From there, Kelly heads online, and researches a local meet up group to find fellow interior designers who were once in a similar predicament. From there, Kelly met her own Ken, a fellow Interior Designer with charm and charisma, who enjoyed outer success with his clients; yet felt like the plumber with the clogged kitchen sink. Therefore he could relate to Kelly's journey to the simple and harmonious life as an Interior Designer with not only a well-designed; but a clean, clutter free living space. From there, they decided to head out on a first date to the newly renovated art gallery, where minimalism and art co-existed and became best friends, as well as volunteering to help other Interior Designers find joy in their living spaces, and then their life once more.

Of course, the journey was not problem free. There were sometimes subtle, and other times downright mean criticisms from her boss, who suddenly is sceptical of her clean and simplified workspace at the office, of which is a by-product of her harmonious and simpler life at home. Kelly's boss is of the mindset that assumes that because a desk is clean and crisp, that this worker is far from productive. He thinks that Kelly's work has regressed from this new found attitude and way of living.

Furthermore, there are many people in her circle of friends who are mean and jealous of Kelly's clean and clutter free space at her apartment. Kelly soon quickly learned that the process of delucuttering in sparking and finding more joy and harmony in her life has come with an additional obstacle; becoming more and more conscious and aware of toxic friendships that no longer serve her and her new purpose. Then again, things are blooming and growing with her new man, Ken. It seems like another load of heavy, unnecessary weight has been lifted off her shoulders. Speaking of which, shoulder massages with her physiotherapist are not needed as frequently, just from the simple and harmonious act of adopting a minimalist lifestyle, with the cluttered apartment, together with mounting obligations and pressures serving as her silent mentors in a way.

Stuff is temporary, and Kelly and Ken through the growth of their relationship come to yet another epiphany on the importance of being selective on the material stuff that they own in their individual apartments and workspace; regardless of what some well meaning critics think. More stuff usually equates to more responsibility, and hence more baggage. Owning things comes with a ton of responsibility, and therefore it is wise to select quality workmanship, rather than taking the cheap and nasty route. After all, both Kelly and Ken are Interior Designers by trade. They design beautiful living spaces for a living. Isn't it good to walk the talk?

Another week or two passes by, and Kelly is enjoying her relationship with Ken, and they begin to feel comfortable in being intimate. In being intimate with one another; both Kelly and Ken find that this process of living the minimalist route in their space predominantly; they soon find that this process is a journey, and not the final destination. Again, this is set to be the first chapter of (hopefully) many chapters in this community on the Vocal Media platform. And her boss finally came around, and began to change his views on how Kelly has actually become more productive as an Interior Designer under his employ.

Relapses can, and do happen. From helping others through a couple of voluntary experiences; Kelly discovers a program online where you can learn from the real minimalists, as in the film, of who are in sync with Marie Kondo's philosophy and values in living a simpler, more harmonious and minimalist life. Even one's finances can get a makeover, as well as how these experiences can be applied to packing for a short interstate trip. Positive growth is another natural by-product that comes from merely making a decision, and by then applying that decision for the greater good. Ken also learns about Canva, and that templates can be found to keep a person accountable and on track with their decluttering and cleaning schedules. Both Kelly and Ken then discover that one-bedroom apartments do not clean themselves, no matter how clean and clutter free they are; even at the best of times. Indeed, a Dyson can be your best friend around the home.

The themes of this story:

1. Feeling stuck/encountering a challenge.

2. Being aware of change, and thereby wanting to change for the better.

3. Being supported and drawn to such changes, and then taking the right actions.

4. More action taking, and then dealing with the challenges of such.

5. The breakthroughs. And a better quality of life to follow, because an abundance of action was taken, in line with persistence.