Looking through my old academic bin of readers, papers, notebooks (why am I saving this stuff? Does anyone really ever go back and review it?) for my old clinical supervision notes, I came across an old cardboard UPS envelope that I saved. I had filled it with tons of little scraps of paper, to the point of bulging. I pulled out one that read “When speaking of others, consider three questions: Is it true? Is it of a positive nature? Will it benefit those who hear it?” I realized that like calendar pages, they were snippets of articles, some one-liners that I thought were provoking. I pulled out another one that read “Choose cheerfulness. It’s contagious.”
I felt my heart ache because these were more than crumpled pieces of paper. I recalled the day I had the bright idea that I would start having “perfect mornings” (please laugh- I just had a good one typing that phrase). I would go for my daily run (I still do this. I am a runner, not running for me is not an option), shower (yes, I still do that sometimes twice a day), then pull out a quote and my glue stick and adhere it to pages of what I called my quote book. The idea behind this was I would fill it with thoughts, nuggets of laughter, and wisdom that I could flip through and center myself. I do not do this daily (as the evidence has proven), time simply has gotten away from me. So, as the New Year is in swing, I would like to push myself to positively purge these pearls of wisdom as I purge my pile of articles (151 to date). I welcome your feedbacks in the comments and your likes and passing the real life wisdom on to others as I embark on this new venture of “positively purging“, as I know each of these pieces represents something.
Real Life of an MSW 
There is, in my opinion, something to be said for tradition and ritual. I’m not sure, at this time, exactly what that is. I like the sound of sacred positive habits.
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I agree we all need to find a scared positive habit. I know mines in running that is why I think these little nuggets of wisdom were not priority….
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I love a good positive purge. I try to go through my piles at least once a year and decide what is important and what is not-it fascinates me how my idea of what is important changes so much between years. Hope you continue to enjoy the good things you are finding!
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A annual positive purge sounds great. I agree it fascinates me how my idea of what is important changes so much between years and how much I have grown and come closer to the person I want to become. Thank you for reading.
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I hope your knees bear up better than mine have after 25,000 miles in my 5th decade 🙂
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Great idea. I think all writers, professional or not, have snippets of paper with thoughts or quotes. Watching Woody Allen’s documentary, I was amazed at how he would pull one of his ideas out of a huge pile and develop a movie plot out of it.
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I have learned a snippet of paper can get the mind flowing in numerous directions.
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The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by M Kondo.
You will get a new life.
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Lol…thanks for the book suggestions , but despite the bin of paper I am a pretty organized woman 🙂
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Yes, I too have numerous snippets everywhere in my drawers, my flat and hanging folders, my binders. I also have journals and a small black book I brought with me 40+ years ago from Hong Kong. I also have journals in my computer folders. I eventually put all the computer journal writings in one folder. For scrap paper here and there, I categorized them. I have some ideas of how to use them, but I’m still working on the ideas.
I like what you’re doing!
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You sound more organized with your snippets and scraps of paper than I could ever be😊. I am however, enjoying my random purging projects and the feedback/comments from readers like you. Not to mention, the snippets and scarps have provided a lot of self reflection. Thank you for reading.
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Congrats. Mission accomplished! Continue to do what you enjoy doing. 🙂
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I am purging too, but the hardest is the more personal, notes, jottings, old school paintings, as If i die with them. But the double take is that though I may die a little, if I am, I have at least embodied what I birthed and can truly let go. yes, enjoy the journey.
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It has been a journey .The emotional pieces are hard perhaps that is why I don’t share as many “How did you get here’!” post as I should ?!?!?
https://reallifeofanmsw.com/tag/how-did-you-get-herE/
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Yes, hard indeed
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I loved this – I too have pieces of paper that ‘are meaningful’ at the time I saved them, but now? Not so much. With help from my husband, I did throw out many papers (moving a few times helps because it forces you to throw out stuff rather than move it) I found that throwing out what isn’t needed helps me de-stress. I don’t feel obligated to read through them all, especially all the old magazines I’m ‘gonna read some day’… I don’t feel regret, just a heavy sigh and moved on… Good luck MSW!
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It has been a interesting purging process, for sure. Thiis blog has been a great platform to release these pieces of paper turned reflections, advice columns, educational pieces into the virtual world.
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Now that’s a good use for them! Mine just collected dust filled with good intentions 😔
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Reblogged this on Time Traveler on the road of Life and commented:
Putting thought together is a great way to create a post for social media or keep the creative juices flowing. I keep planning on taking time to work on a new book, so far “things” has got in the way. “Today, I will get on with it!” Most of the time I write in the “back of my mind” and when it starts to hurt, I have to say “the hell with everything else” and put it down on paper. Today may be the day. Book 2 of The Spirited One is starting to hurt.
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