--- title: Scraps of Paper, Bits of Notes description: Cleaning can give not only restore order but unearth those notes you really wanted to remember and put to good use. Deanna Bartalini explains. --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2017/03/16/scraps-paper-bits-notes#) # Scraps of Paper, Bits of Notes Mar 16, 2017 7:00:21 AM  |  by [Deanna Bartalini](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/deanna-bartalini) [!["Scraps of Paper; Bits of Notes" by Deanna Bartalini (CatholicMom.com)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Done-is-better-than-perfectDont-waste-timePrioritizeSchedule-your-time.jpg?width=800&height=800&name=Done-is-better-than-perfectDont-waste-timePrioritizeSchedule-your-time.jpg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Done-is-better-than-perfectDont-waste-timePrioritizeSchedule-your-time.jpg) Copyright 2017 Deanna Bartalini. All rights reserved. Every so often my office space becomes a disaster area. Papers on the floor, fabric draped over chairs, bills all over the desk, pens scattered all about, and a fine layer of dust on the printer and sewing machine. Oh yeah, it’s looked like that for more days than I care to say and no, there’s no picture. I cleaned it and treated myself to daffodils from Trader Joe’s as a reward. I filed papers, folded fabric and recycled old papers. [tweet "Gems of inspiration found while cleaning the office. By @notlukewarm316"] But I also found some gems. A few quotes that I know longer recall where they came from, but struck again as to the truth they contain. This one is from a talk given by a local priest who quoted Donald Altman using the acronym GLAD. > Each day we should be Grateful for at least one thing; Learn something new; Accomplish one thing and be Delighted by one thing. Now, I am aware it is Lent and so maybe GLAD is not your word during this season. So, put it in your pocket and keep it for Easter. No matter when, GLAD would be a wonderful way to review the day with your spouse and children. It would probably get a better response than “what did you learn in school today?” or “how was your meeting?” Another thing I found was a list of reminders for myself: > *Done is better than perfect* > *     Don’t waste time* > *     Schedule your time* > *     Prioritize* And then this question, to help with discernment: *Will this build up or diminish my spirit?* I’m glad I found these little gems in between the to-do lists and old sale flyers. They reminded me to pause and pay attention, that every once in a while, it’s good to look back. Now, if I could only find those cute mechanical pencils I bought. . . . [!["Scraps of Paper; Bits of Notes" by Deanna Bartalini (CatholicMom.com)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/daffodils.jpg?width=800&height=467&name=daffodils.jpg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/daffodils.jpg) Copyright 2017 Deanna Bartalini. All rights reserved. *Copyright 2017 Deanna Bartalini* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2017%2F03%2F16%2Fscraps-paper-bits-notes%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2017%2F03%2F16%2Fscraps-paper-bits-notes%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2017%2F03%2F16%2Fscraps-paper-bits-notes%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Scraps%20of%20Paper%2C%20Bits%20of%20Notes) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2017%2F03%2F16%2Fscraps-paper-bits-notes%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2017%2F03%2F16%2Fscraps-paper-bits-notes%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Deanna Bartalini](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Deanna%20Bartalini%202025-1.png) ### [Deanna Bartalini](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/deanna-bartalini) Deanna G. Bartalini, M.Ed., M.P.A. is a certified spiritual director, retreat leader, speaker, and writer with decades of experience serving the Church. She is the founder of [LiveNotLukewarm.com](https://LiveNotLukewarm.com), works on the retreat team at Our Lady of Florida Passionist Spiritual Center, and is an Unbound prayer minister. Deanna writes from her experiences of over 40 years of marriage, children and grandchildren. ## Related Blog Articles [ Mercy and Confession Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2017/02/16/mercy-and-confession) [ Finding God in All Things Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2013/11/17/finding-god-in-all-things) [ Book Review-Not God’s Type, An Atheist Academic Lays Down Her Arms by Holly Ordway Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2014/10/29/book-review-not-gods-type-an-atheist-academic-lays-down-her-arms-by-holly-ordway) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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