--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had been so focused on what to discard…" description: "\"I had been so focused on what to discard, on attacking the unwanted obstacles around me, that I had forgotten to cherish the things that I loved, the t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/540/marie-kondo-8259_cherish_i-had-been-so-focused-on-what-to-discard_61382.jpg" --- # I had been so focused on what to discard, on attacking the… ![“I had been so focused on what to discard, on attacking the unwanted obstacles around me, that I had forgotten to cherish the things that I loved, the things I wanted to keep.” quote by Marie Kondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/540/marie-kondo-8259_cherish_i-had-been-so-focused-on-what-to-discard_61382.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/540/marie-kondo-8259_cherish_i-had-been-so-focused-on-what-to-discard_61382.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/540/marie-kondo-8259_cherish_i-had-been-so-focused-on-what-to-discard_61382.jpg) > “I had been so focused on what to discard, on attacking the unwanted obstacles around me, that I had forgotten to cherish the things that I loved, the things I wanted to keep.” [Marie Kondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When we obsess over removing negatives, we may overlook appreciating positives we already have. **In simple terms:** Neglecting gratitude while fixing problems. Key Takeaway Balance removal with appreciation. Themes gratitude mindfulness prioritization self-care balance Mood reflective calm thoughtful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - decluttering a home - reorganizing a schedule - managing relationships - overcoming procrastination - recovering from burnout Key Concepts focus attachment loss aversion Practical Applications - coaching for holistic productivity - designing wellness programs Questions to Reflect On - What positives are you overlooking while fixing issues? - How can you integrate appreciation into your removal process? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Focused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focused/) [Obstacles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obstacles/) ## Related quotes > [To truly cherish the things that are important to you, you must first discard those that have outlived their purpose. And if you no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/to-truly-cherish-the-things-that-are-important-to-you-you-must-first/) [Marie Kondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [I keep a lot to myself, and I cherish the things that are for me and the people closest to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-oakley/i-keep-a-lot-to-myself-and-i-cherish-the-things-that-are-for-me-and/) [Tyler Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-oakley/) > [Cherish things while you still have them, not when they've gone, for one of the hardest things to deal with is regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/cherish-things-while-you-still-have-them-not-when-they-ve-gone-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It’s not that Mom didn’t keep anything, it’s that she kept the wrong things. We leave memories on objects we love and cherish, things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/it-s-not-that-mom-didn-t-keep-anything-it-s-that-she-kept-the-wrong/) [Victoria Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/) > [“To truly cherish the things that are important to you, you must first discard those that have outlived their purpose. To get rid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/to-truly-cherish-the-things-that-are-important-to-you-you-must-first-2/) [Marie Kondō](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [I'm one of those YouTubers who doesn't daily-vlog, so my life may seem very open, but my audience only really sees probably 50%. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-oakley/i-m-one-of-those-youtubers-who-doesn-t-daily-vlog-so-my-life-may-seem/) [Tyler Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-oakley/) > [“When you come across something that you cannot part with, think carefully about its true purpose in your life. You’ll be surprised at how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/when-you-come-across-something-that-you-cannot-part-with-think/) [Marie Kondō](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [The Healthiest Response to life is Laughter.There is always a reason to be grateful.You belong in the scheme of the universe. There's nothing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/the-healthiest-response-to-life-is-laughter-there-is-always-a-reason/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I cherish my clothes and I remember what seasons they're from. But someone said to me as I was having trouble with styling a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-hudson/i-cherish-my-clothes-and-i-remember-what-seasons-they-re-from-but/) [Kate Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-hudson/) > [Hold tenderly that which you cherish, for it is precious and a tight grip may crush it. Do not let the fear of dropping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-alberti/hold-tenderly-that-which-you-cherish-for-it-is-precious-and-a-tight/) Bob Alberti > [Being in a Woody Allen film. I cherish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-posey/being-in-a-woody-allen-film-i-cherish-it/) [Parker Posey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-posey/) > [The longer you are in acting business, the more you cherish the times when you're working with people that do great work, and can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-bakula/the-longer-you-are-in-acting-business-the-more-you-cherish-the-times/) [Scott Bakula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-bakula/) > [I am simply looking for a companion with whom to spend my days, a companion who will cherish as much as I the stupidity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-julavits/i-am-simply-looking-for-a-companion-with-whom-to-spend-my-days-a/) [Heidi Julavits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-julavits/) > [They say that the commons of England would first destroy the king's friends and afterward himself, and then bring the Duke of York to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-cade/they-say-that-the-commons-of-england-would-first-destroy-the-king-s/) [Jack Cade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-cade/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) ## More by Marie Kondo > [“If you tidy your house all at once, you’ll rebound. It’s better to make it a habit to do a little at a time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/if-you-tidy-your-house-all-at-once-you-ll-rebound-it-s-better-to-make/) [Marie Kondō](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [Being packed all the time, even when not in use, must feel something like going to bed on an empty stomach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/being-packed-all-the-time-even-when-not-in-use-must-feel-something/) [Marie Kondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [I'd like to tidy up the entire planet. I would go anywhere if there were something that needs tidying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/i-d-like-to-tidy-up-the-entire-planet-i-would-go-anywhere-if-there/) [Marie Kondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [“By handling each sentimental item and deciding what to discard, you process your past. If you just stow these things away in a drawer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/by-handling-each-sentimental-item-and-deciding-what-to-discard-you/) [Marie Kondō](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [“The space in which we live should be for the person we are becoming now. Not for the person we were in the past.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/the-space-in-which-we-live-should-be-for-the-person-we-are-becoming/) [Marie Kondō](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [I recommend tidying by category, not by place. For example, instead of deciding that today you'll tidy a particular room, set goals such as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/i-recommend-tidying-by-category-not-by-place-for-example-instead-of/) [Marie Kondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [“By acknowledging their contribution and letting them go with gratitude, you will be able to truly put the things you own, and your life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/by-acknowledging-their-contribution-and-letting-them-go-with/) [Marie Kondō](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [Keep only those things that speak to your heart. Then take the plunge and discard all the rest. By doing this, you can reset…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/keep-only-those-things-that-speak-to-your-heart-then-take-the-plunge/) [Marie Kondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [“people who use the KonMari Method never revert to clutter again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/people-who-use-the-konmari-method-never-revert-to-clutter-again/) [Marie Kondō](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [“Treat your socks and stockings with respect”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/treat-your-socks-and-stockings-with-respect/) [Marie Kondō](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [Once you learn to choose your belongings properly, you will be left with only the amount that fits perfectly in the space you own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/once-you-learn-to-choose-your-belongings-properly-you-will-be-left/) [Marie Kondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [“Sorting papers Rule of thumb—discard everything Once”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/sorting-papers-rule-of-thumb-discard-everything-once/) [Marie Kondō](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [I had a slight hope the phrase 'spark joy' might become popular, as it was the keyword that I wanted to put forward in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/i-had-a-slight-hope-the-phrase-spark-joy-might-become-popular-as-it/) [Marie Kondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [“The recent trend in Japan is to utilize time in the early morning to take seminars.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/the-recent-trend-in-japan-is-to-utilize-time-in-the-early-morning-to/) [Marie Kondō](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [“When you stand in front of a closet that has been reorganized so that the clothes rise to the right, you will feel your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/when-you-stand-in-front-of-a-closet-that-has-been-reorganized-so-that/) [Marie Kondō](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) [Explore all 75 Marie Kondo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) ## More Cherish quotes > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [They say that the commons of England would first destroy the king's friends and afterward himself, and then bring the Duke of York to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-cade/they-say-that-the-commons-of-england-would-first-destroy-the-king-s/) [Jack Cade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-cade/) > [I am simply looking for a companion with whom to spend my days, a companion who will cherish as much as I the stupidity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-julavits/i-am-simply-looking-for-a-companion-with-whom-to-spend-my-days-a/) [Heidi Julavits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-julavits/) > [The longer you are in acting business, the more you cherish the times when you're working with people that do great work, and can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-bakula/the-longer-you-are-in-acting-business-the-more-you-cherish-the-times/) [Scott Bakula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-bakula/) > [Being in a Woody Allen film. I cherish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-posey/being-in-a-woody-allen-film-i-cherish-it/) [Parker Posey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-posey/) > [Hold tenderly that which you cherish, for it is precious and a tight grip may crush it. Do not let the fear of dropping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-alberti/hold-tenderly-that-which-you-cherish-for-it-is-precious-and-a-tight/) Bob Alberti > [I cherish my clothes and I remember what seasons they're from. But someone said to me as I was having trouble with styling a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-hudson/i-cherish-my-clothes-and-i-remember-what-seasons-they-re-from-but/) [Kate Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-hudson/) > [You never know what's going to happen so just enjoy the moments that you have with the people you love and cherish them. Let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-grammer/you-never-know-what-s-going-to-happen-so-just-enjoy-the-moments-that/) [Camille Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-grammer/) > [Cherish your solitude. Take trains by yourself to places you have never been. Sleep out alone under the stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/cherish-your-solitude-take-trains-by-yourself-to-places-you-have/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) > [I keep a lot to myself, and I cherish the things that are for me and the people closest to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-oakley/i-keep-a-lot-to-myself-and-i-cherish-the-things-that-are-for-me-and/) [Tyler Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-oakley/) > [We must understand that God does not "love" us without liking us - through gritted teeth - as "Christian" love is sometimes thought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/we-must-understand-that-god-does-not-love-us-without-liking-us/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [ For some unknown reason, this \[antiabortion\] branch of Christianity cherishes the unborn and hates the living person. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vine-deloria-jr/for-some-unknown-reason-this-antiabortion-branch-of-christianity/) [Vine Deloria Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vine-deloria-jr/) > [I want to say unequivocally that while I cherish every person who comes from anywhere, who comes here legally and seeks to pursue happiness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/i-want-to-say-unequivocally-that-while-i-cherish-every-person-who/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [“What makes you cherish is what often makes others perish”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/what-makes-you-cherish-is-what-often-makes-others-perish/) [P.S. Jagadeesh Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/) > [The lesson learned: Never take your loved ones for granted. And if you’re ever lucky enough to find that one person in life who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-lesson-learned-never-take-your-loved-ones-for-granted-and-if-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 1,279 Cherish quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I had been so focused on what to discard, on attacking the unwanted obstacles around me, that I had forgotten to cherish the things that I loved, the things I wanted to keep.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marie Kondo" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/i-had-been-so-focused-on-what-to-discard-on-attacking-the-unwanted/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cherish" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/i-had-been-so-focused-on-what-to-discard-on-attacking-the-unwanted/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/540/marie-kondo-8259_cherish_i-had-been-so-focused-on-what-to-discard_61382.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/540/marie-kondo-8259_cherish_i-had-been-so-focused-on-what-to-discard_61382.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/540/marie-kondo-8259_cherish_i-had-been-so-focused-on-what-to-discard_61382.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I had been so focused on what to discard, on attacking the unwanted obstacles around me, that I had…” — Marie Kondo", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Marie Kondo", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I had been so focused on...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/i-had-been-so-focused-on-what-to-discard-on-attacking-the-unwanted/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/i-had-been-so-focused-on-what-to-discard-on-attacking-the-unwanted/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```