World-renowned tidying expert Marie Kondo has inspired many to find out what sparks joy in their life using the KonMari method, developed by Marie herself, to transform their cluttered homes into spaces of serenity and inspiration.
Now, the tables have turned. After welcoming her third child, Marie found herself navigating a new landscape with tidiness taking a backseat to the beautiful chaos of family, and is embarking on a journey with Klook to rediscover joy in a new, messier chapter of life in their latest campaign, The Best You.
Klook is inviting people to reconnect with the emotional purpose behind travel, reframing travel as more than a getaway, and centres on the idea that discovery — of places, people, and parts of ourselves — has the power to bring out our best selves.
Why did you embark on this journey?
My system for tidying took the world by storm, but things had to change as I needed to focus on my family. Especially after I became a mother. There was a moment when I realized I couldn’t do it all. Run a business, care for my family, and maintain the image of having a perfectly tidy home.
Now I’m coming back to where it all started, to discover what can spark joy in this new phase of my life through travel and embracing life’s beautiful surprises.
For years, you were seen as the perfect embodiment of calm, discipline, and order. Your new stance on tidiness (letting go of perfection) shocked a lot of people. Why do you think people resist the idea of change in public figures?
I always valued tidying. But of course, priorities change when life changes. I loved sharing the joy of tidying with the world. People saw that as I was a tidying expert, but it created an expectation that my house would always be in perfect order even with children. I think they were surprised because the reality didn’t match that image.
Change can feel uncomfortable for people who have a fixed image of someone they think they know. However, change is a natural part of life, and one thing is consistent: my key message, which is to live a life that sparks joy.
Seeking inspiration and a deeper connection to her roots, Marie embarked on a transformative journey back to Japan, where she embraced experiences outside the meticulous world of tidying. From finding focus by channeling her inner samurai, dancing in a robot suit, and embracing imperfections in a traditional kintsugi workshop, these diverse encounters paint a picture of a Marie open to rediscovering herself through unexpected avenues.
She found a powerful connection with kintsugi, a traditional Japanese technique for repairing broken ceramic objects that translates to ‘gold’ (kin 金) and ‘joining’ (tsugi 継ぎ), breathing new life and appreciation into their imperfections.
What was it about kintsugi that resonated with you?
I learnt about the beauty in imperfection during the kintsugi workshop. It’s not about perfection, it’s about looking straight at the beauty of what’s in front of you. This is a very typical Japanese thought, and it resonated with me.
This is very much in line with the cleanliness of the KonMari Method. What do you leave in each house? What kind of beauty do you feel? Some people have completely different sensibilities, and that is to recognize the beauty of your own house as it is. That is the goal of the Konmari Method, so I was very happy to be able to share the same philosophy.
I’ve always been focused on balance and finding joy, not perfection. I found peace in accepting my imperfection. That gives me new energy to try new things. I hope others feel encouraged to do the same.
Reflecting on this journey of rediscovery, what does ‘the best you’ now embody for Marie Kondo?
Nobody is perfect, including myself, and that is fine. I focused on what truly sparks joy for me now. My children, my family and a life that feels authentic even when it’s not perfect. Our everyday lives are full of small joys that we can miss if we focus too much on perfection.
The best me is a person who always listens to what my heart says and follows it, and knows what sparks joy for me now. I want to always be open to new experiences, to never stop searching for things that touch my heart.
