Table manners

Spring-cleaned my desk today. After a whole year. >.<

A clean and tidy work-desk is like...

...many wonderful things waiting to happen.
...moving on in life after a dealing with a bittersweet past.

I even feel like bursting into song right now.

"Past the point of no return; no backward glances...."

Corny me.

Frustration and claustrophobia beat my usual lackadaisical regard for the mess at my desk today. A year's worth of stuff had assembled around the spots where I usually rest my elbows to type - predominantly paper, filled with notes taken during classes, scribbles, Korean and English vocabulary, and  sums (mostly subtraction and addition - with regards to planning word-counts for my major papers). Cosy party over, the mess seemed to be edging toward an undignified coup d'état. I knew deep down inside *cue for dramatic music*... that I could procrastinate no further. I had to clean my desk today.

Spent the afternoon parting with those memorable stacks of paper. While I was at it, I also dealt with the receipts which had made my wallet so fat and thick over time. Well then, I am glad to see the recycling bag so full now.

Well done, Grace.

But this is me. I am not too good at maintaining orderliness in my work space(s). It is difficult to shut and put away books that might still come in handy for a particular paper while I am not done with it. It is difficult to throw away scribbling paper because there are still spaces left for scribbling. Also, I have a sentimental attachment to my notes - even those which are not needed anymore - because they have stuck with me through thick and thin throughout the year. 

I should have made a Christmas tree out of my recyclables. What an idea! Should I? Should I?

I read with much amusement (earlier this year) an article on the NY Times, which supported that a messy desk helps one to be more creative, original and courageous in pursuing novelty. It would be nice if it were true.

It must be true.