à la carte spirit by ilona fried
decluttering
In Budapest, Finding Treasure Amid the Trash
Thanks to the location of my quirky Budapest rental, I had a front row seat to one of the more fascinating shows in town: lomtalanítás, which I’ll translate as “get rid of junk” day. The city offers one day of free haulage annually for its 23 districts, staggering them across the calendar. I had not … Continue reading
The KonMari Method: A Decluttering “Camino”
Frequently I’ve fantasized about living differently. A few years ago, while following a guided imagery offered by my Zen teacher, I visualized my home as a light-filled and spare dwelling, furnished with carefully chosen items and sleek storage to reduce visual clutter. Imagining myself in such a pristine environment felt peaceful and spacious. When I opened my eyes, I lost … Continue reading
Trading Old for New, East for West
Sometimes the past visits in unexpected places. On Tuesday, I dropped off yet another donation of stuff. Normally, at this collection center, a brawny and frequently tattooed employee pushes a wheeled bin toward my car or approaches to help unload as I pull up. This time a slender man in his 60s ambled by as … Continue reading
New Diagnosis: Post Traumatic Stuff Disorder
Post Traumatic Stuff Disorder: When Cluttered Environments Trigger Anxiety and Dread Each night along the Camino de Santiago, I sorted and organized the contents of my backpack, leaving behind what I no longer needed. Sometimes all I threw away were cheese rinds and Band-Aid wrappers, essentially weightless, taking up little space. Other times I left … Continue reading
When Curiosity Beckons
When curiosity beckons, we don’t always know where it will take us, or how long the journey will be. Last week a friend, a spry septuagenarian who pedals around town like nobody’s business, mentioned she was overwhelmed by the thought of preparing for her upcoming yard sale. I asked her if she wanted help. My … Continue reading
à la carte spirit by ilona fried 
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