Writers often carry notebooks with them much like a visual artist might carry a sketchpad. I will often take notes during meetings which I sometimes have to explain to people. “I may repeat what you said, but no one will know who said it.” It is my way of gleaning knowledge. People don’t know that they may have been quoted in my book coming from the lips of Jesus or Matthew or Mary Magdalene. Nice, thought? I hope so.
I keep a notebook in my purse, one by my reading place in the morning and one by my chair before the TV. Some of what I record are books I want to some day read or movies that sound interesting. I even recorded categories and answers from Wheel of Fortune. They came in handy when our family turned to zoom during Covid.
When a book gets filled up, I will go through it before tossing it to take out notes that I might still use and put these into a new notebook. That is what I did yesterday with one of these notebooks. As I went through it once again, I thought that some of the ideas I had were worth keeping so I thought I would share them here with you.
At a recovery meeting, someone commented on slips: “We start to depend on being able to come back until we can’t.”
“There is a committee in my head.”
“Your need is God’s Opportunity.”
“We want to be perfect so we don’t have to deal with the consequences such as humiliation, guilt, people not liking us, and harm to self and others.”
“Praying for someone I dislike is an act of humility – I admit that I don’t really know this person, but I trust God does because I believe in God’s love. I trust that there is something there to love.”
“If I am drawn to the black, I have to choose to move to right thinking until that becomes as automatic as the black thinking.”
“By avoiding someone I am giving that person power over me.”
“Of all the things I miss most in life, I miss my mind the most.”
“Capitalism is better when you mix in a little morality.”
“Sometimes discussions are more performative than informative.”
“Life is not fair, but government should be.” Anne Richards, governor of Texas.
“There is no community unless between equals.”
“The purpose of art is to describe hell and heaven as experienced in life.”
The first person to get the Covid 19 shot was Sandra Lindsey.
“Donald Trump is the Confederacy’s last stand.” Joy Reed.
“Just because you have a broken system does not mean that the everyone in it is broken. Stop defending bad cops. It is not a reflection on good ones.”
Thanks. Now I can toss that notebook in the trash.
“Of all the things I miss most in life, I miss my mind the most.” I like that one!
I like your dedication to your self…your creative self, your practice.
See you tonight? I am looking forward to seeing you tonight!
Love and peace,
Kathy
I have yellow pads like yours in similar spots with many of the same things on them, books to read, movies to watch, quotes I find interesting, my own thoughts about something that may be disturbing or enlightening. Has helped me a lot to prepare for a conversation I want to have with someone too. Great idea for us older folks! Good quotes too, cuz.
You added a new element. Preparing for conversations, even if we don’t know we are going to have them. Good for old folks…my goodness yes. My memory is like a sieve but when i write something down I think an idea sticks better.
That’s such a good idea. I usually put my notes on my phone but I tend not to look at them. I like the idea of a non virtual notebook. You have some great quotes.
I have to ask, are you a writer?