Semester Cleaning

I love spring cleaning - that idea of taking everything out of cupboards, rooms, etc. and starting over. Semester cleaning is not quite as much "fun" because it just involves switching textbooks from one shelf to the other and putting docx, ppt, and xslx files in titled folders. I've decided though that I need to once again clear my desktop of old stickie notes. Currently stickies of all colors and various sizes cover the snowy backdrop. Everything from internship ideas to lists of who has borrowed which books and words I need to look up to grocery lists is there. My favorite stickies though are quotes - some of which are days old and some of which are months old. I've found these quotes in articles, books, movies, talks, etc. It's time to start with a clean slate for everything though so before I officially clear these away, here are some words that have inspired me.

"Let you alone! That's all very well, but how can I leave myself alone? We need not to be let alone. We need to be really bothered once in a while. How long is it since you were really bothered? About something important, about something real?"
--Guy Montag in Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451"

"You see, in my view a writer is a writer not because she writes well and easily, because she has amazing talent, because everything she does is golden. In my view a writer is a writer because even when there is no hope, even when nothing you do shows any sign of promise, you keep writing anyway."
--Junot Diaz

"I have noted within the Church a difference in discernment, insight, conviction, and spirit between those who know and love the Book of Mormon and those who do not. That book is a great sifter."
--Ezra Taft Benson in Dec. 1988 Ensign

"WHEN YOU GO TO THE LORD WITH A QUESTION, HOW MUCH PREPARATION DO YOU PUT INTO IT?"
--Rachel Hansen in her R.S. Lesson

"Plan to be surprised."
--Dan Burns in "Dan in Real Life"

"The future is as bright as your faith."
--Thomas S. Monson in April 2009 General Conference

"People's lives are always happening right in front of you."
--Felicity Porter in "Felicity"

"Lost time is never found...."
--Haley's Essay in May 2009

"You don't understand what you're capable of."
--Mark Forsyth as quoted by Eric Forsyth after Mark passed away this fall

Your genetic energy level enables your lack of discipline," Rochelle continued. "Instead of leading a disciplined life, you lead a busy life.
She then gave me what I came to call the 20-10 assignment. It goes like this: Suppose you woke up tomorrow and received two phone calls. The first phone call tells you that you have inherited $20 million, no strings attached. The second tells you that you have an incurable and terminal disease, and you have no more than 10 years to live. What would you do differently, and, in particular, what would you stop doing?
--Jim Collins in "Best New Year's Resolution"

I know some of these quotes seem random, but I love them. Happy reading and happy living!