I was raised by two accountants in a multicultural household in San Jose, CA. My parents believed in the importance of responsibility, financial management, and maintaining order. Every morning, we would make our beds and remove our shoes before entering the house.
My parents instilled in us the belief that our home wasn’t just a reflection of our emotions but a reflection of our true selves and a symbol of our gratitude for what we had. While they weren’t strict minimalists, they had developed a system that ensured everything had its designated place. This system was designed to create a harmonious household and prepare us for unexpected guests.
In our kitchen, nothing went to waste. Every ingredient and item found its purpose, and what couldn’t be used was packed with love into a balikbayan box from the Philippines. My mother, an avid decorator, proudly displayed items from her motherland and her travels before having children with my father.
We spent our weekends as a family doing various household chores, including cleaning and organizing. By the age of nine, I was cleaning out the kitchen cabinetry from inside and out, rearranging the dishware to maximize efficiency throughout the week. This was particularly important to me because, from a young age, I had taken on the responsibility of making breakfast for myself and my family in the mornings and preparing school lunches for myself and my brother. My Lola (grandmother) was in charge of making dinner. Despite her advanced age and 4’9” stature, she was still able to reach items in the kitchen with ease.
For seasonal transitions, I was tasked with unpacking and displaying china from the storage boxes in the dining room glass cabinet. This cabinet also showcased the Waterford crystal my parents had purchased during their honeymoon in Ireland. We had a knack for frequently changing items in and out of the cabinet to reflect the changing seasons and trends. Nothing remained stagnant in our household; precious items were always kept and never discarded.
We had an unwritten rulebook that governed our actions, and these values and practices came naturally to us as a family. By the time I was 12, I had become a valuable and contributing member of the household.
These values and approaches are what I refer to when navigating my own life transitions, and they have also proven useful in raising my own family. For those who have become overwhelmed by a household filled with clutter, I strive to help them rediscover the essence of what brings everyone together. In our modern era of consumption, I remind people not to get lost in their own personal space. Your life is constantly evolving, and finding a rhythm and organizational system that works is essential for your well-being!
