Decluttering Log: Because there is 'space,' I can meet a new version of myself. The true value of a light lifestyle, realized after falling into the manga 'swamp' in my 50s.

The moment my heart was moved for the first time in over a decade.

"To think that at this age, I would end up so hooked..."

I am surprised myself. It started at a local Book Off. A certain comic book whose title I had known for a while. When it caught my eye, it was being sold for about 300 yen a volume. Buying four volumes would only cost about 1,000 yen.

"It's only about 1,000 yen, so I'll give it a try. If it's boring, I can just come back and sell it."

That lighthearted feeling was the beginning of it all. Any anxiety vanished, and I couldn't stop turning the pages. It had been over a decade since I was so captivated by a comic.

Weekend immersion, and then an 'adult purchase'.

By the time I finished the fourth volume, I couldn't help but wonder what would happen next. Swept up in the momentum of the weekend, I went on Book Off Online and bought all the remaining volumes at once—an 'adult purchase'.

A few days later, a cardboard box containing quite a number of books arrived. The me of the past might have held my head in my hands, wondering, "Where am I going to put these?" But now, it's different.

On my shelves, which I usually keep 'sparse,' all the volumes fit surprisingly easily. I realized that having physical space alone is enough to eliminate psychological stress.

The momentum didn't stop, and I finally fell into the 'swamp'.

When I finished reading all the volumes, I was convinced. "Ah, I've completely fallen into the swamp."

This work had also been adapted into an anime, and before I knew it, I had purchased the Blu-ray box set on Book Off Online as well. While thinking to myself, "I can only laugh at this," I slid the heavy, substantial box onto my shelf.

It, too, fit into my room as if it had been custom-made for it.

Physical space is a vessel for accepting 'new things'.

There is something I realized again through this experience. It is because I have physical space that I was able to welcome a 'new favorite' without hesitation.

What if my room were overflowing with things and my shelves were packed? Even if there were something I wanted, the realistic wall of "having no place to put it" would have put the brakes on my curiosity. Space is, in itself, a 'vessel' for expanding one's world.

Being light on your feet is a warm-up for 'new things'.

This is not limited to just physical belongings. Organizing your surroundings daily and keeping yourself ready to act with agility is also a way to train the 'mental muscle' needed to respond flexibly to new events.

Whether it's work or a hobby, when you become interested in something new, if your hands are already full, you won't even be able to reach out for it.

Whether you can quickly reach out when an opportunity comes your way—I feel that depends on how much 'margin' (white space) you have in your life.

Always be on standby to update yourself.

Creating white space and staying light. That means you are 'prepared' to accept new opportunities and encounters at any time.

To ensure I don't miss the chance to update myself, I will keep white space in my life and agility in my actions. I want to continue living a simple, comfortable life where I can always welcome a new version of myself.

Thank you for reading until the end.