How My First Client Taught Me the True Magic of Tidying
Back in February 2017, I picked up the phone to call a friend who loved Marie Kondo. I was thinking about signing up for the KonMari Consultant Course and wanted her opinion.
Her response took me by surprise:
“Lisa, I need HELP!”
Just like that, I had my very first client—and an appointment to tidy her clothing. I was thrilled (and a little nervous) to try out tidying with a real person!
In the days leading up to our session, I studied Marie Kondo’s books, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up and Spark Joy, soaking up everything I could about folding techniques, home greetings, and the fundamentals of the KonMari Method.
The Big Day Arrives For My First Client
When the big day arrived, we began by creating her vision for her home and life, and greeting her home with gratitude. After a quick tour of her space, the big moment arrived — we gathered all of her clothes into one big pile on the bed.
Each clothing pile is unique. Some are towering mountains. Hers? Tiny.
You see, my first client was an aspiring minimalist. She literally had four bowls — one for each person in her household. (There may have been a fifth… the details are fuzzy, but you get the idea of the modest, simple life she desired.)
At first, it didn’t seem like “enough” to me. I withheld judgment and trusted the method, quickly remembering what Marie teaches: everyone’s click point—the amount of belongings that feels just right—is different.
If you own more than your click point, your space feels cluttered and heavy.
Before we started sorting, I explained how to recognize joy in the body—the way a truly joyful item makes you feel lifted, lighter, and even sparks a little flutter in your heart. (In Japanese, the word tokimeki describes the flutter or “spark” that joy creates.)
Items that don’t spark joy feel heavy. They weigh you down.
That heaviness is your sign to thank the item for its service and let it go with gratitude.
As we began sorting her already modest pile, a tender moment emerged: she shared that she had recently suffered a miscarriage. I was visibly pregnant at the time, which made the experience even more emotional. Meeting her in that vulnerable moment with empathy, I watched her find the courage to trust herself, trust me, and trust the method. On that cloudy February day, my first client gently released the maternity clothes that weighed her down—almost 50% of her wardrobe—into the discard pile with gratitude.
The Aftermath of that Very First Client
I was stunned.
I was inspired.
My first client bravely let go of what no longer served her, even when very little remained. Yet it was just enough for her. Her minimalist wardrobe wasn’t just a dream anymore—we created it together in a single morning.
Click point achieved.
Watching her let go so fearlessly, I realized something critical:
I hadn’t been completely honest with myself in my own tidying journey.
So the moment I got home, I pulled everything out of my closet and drawers for a do-over.
This time, I was brave.
This time, I was honest.
With ruthless abandon, I attacked the pile, searching for JOY.
And I ended up letting go of 45 pounds of clothes and shoes! 🤯
Yes—after already “tidying” that category once, I still found 45 more pounds to release with gratitude!
It felt amazing.
This special event was so successful that I even had empty drawers afterward—which later came in handy when I filled them with baby clothes for my daughter. (But that’s a story for another day.)
When Will Your Big Day Arrive?
The lesson I learned—and the one I want you to carry with you—is this:
✨ Be brave and honest when you tidy. ✨
When you are, you’ll be left with just the right amount.
Click!
Can you feel the triumph of reaching your click point?
If you’re feeling inspired (and I sure hope you are!), go give it a try.
And if you ever get stuck—or want a kind, expert guide to accompany you—I am here for you. Helping people transform their homes—and their lives—has sparked joy for me since that very first glorious session on a humble February day in 2017. 💛