I was laughing at myself this morning. Despite my minimal-ish ways, I have kept something that is kind of annoying.
It’s a citrus juicer that once belonged to my mother. She probably bought it in the 70’s or 80’s when plastic was king. It’s THE best hand citrus juicer I have ever used. But I only use it once in a blue moon.
In my microscopic kitchen it was taking up premium storage space (all space in my kitchen is premium storage space!). I had moved it several times, trying to find a logical place for it. It had to be visible, so I could find it easily it on the rare occasion that I need it. But it’s kind of short and small and easily lost behind things in deep dark cupboards.
Being a very logical person, I needed it to be in a logical place. I tried putting it somewhere non-kitcheny, but it made me feel a bit uncomfortable. This is the laughing-at-myself part.
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I had assigned something to every single space in the kitchen (having said that, the Frying Pans-Plastic Storage-Smoothie Maker-Serving Bowls-Colander cupboard needs an overhaul).
I was starting to get that look in my eye that makes my partner (The Cook) clutch his baster to his chest. But no! No cooking implement was sacrificed for the little plastic citrus juicer.
I rearranged a few things in the eye level Side Plates-Dessert Bowls-Small Oven To Table Dishes-Vases cupboard.
It now sits in pride of place, right in front where I can see it, with tall occasionally used things I can easily reach, just behind it. It’s not in the way, and it won’t vanish into the unreachable, unseeable black hole of The Corner Kitchen Cupboard.
Sometimes we go to great lengths to preserve the things we appreciate. It’s important to respect the desirability of the things that we decide we need to keep. But it’s crucial that these things are truly needed or wanted, because you are prioritising the time you spend managing them, and the space you assign to them, over other things.
Often our behaviours around our belongings are simply habitual or defensive. But if you are determined to have a home that truly serves you, whatever that means to you, make sure that the things in that home are truly loved, useful or beautiful to you.
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