Dear Janus, Earth Angel:

Regarding clutter of school notes and books, my idea this morning: you can place books and notes in categories: Now, Later, and Way-later. Notes and books you need to complete the current semester will be in the  Now category, one accessible location, organized according  to subject matter, all visible, so it is easy to see what is what. Notes and books you will need for the next semester, place in a less accessible place, maybe in a box, that will be a Later category. Notes  and books that you may need in the future,  no particular date, sometime  in the  future when you will be less busy, that can be in the  Way-later category, in a box tucked in far in the closet.

Regarding “how to preserve  notes”  I didn’t  understand what you mean by preserve.

“How do I know I’m not being selfish to my friends when I tell them I can’t hang out because  I have to do school work?”- well, if a friend tells you that you are selfish for doing  school work or studying for an upcoming  test, ask that friend if she or he will pay your bills in five years from now for the next forty years, if she or he  can guarantee that  to you legally, then I  suppose  you will be selfish to not spend time with that friend as your first priority and maybe only  priority.

If I read ridiculous to you, Janus, Well, this  is  my  point to you: a friend is ridiculous for complaining  about you putting  your time and  effort into your future, financial future included, instead of a friendship that may not even be there next week or  month or year, and will definitely not pay  any of your future bills!

Regarding canceling plans because of upcoming  tests,  well, be careful about committing to plans, don’t commit to plans unless you are sure  and  able.  If you are not sure, think before committing. You shouldn’t commit or make promises and then not keep them, except for emergency, or something unforeseeable.

Regarding friends who like pop culture, if they are not interested in science and  you are not interested  in pop culture, if  there is little to no commonality, no meeting of the minds, call them acquaintances, or peers, and  so the friend dilemma is resolved. It  is  like reducing  the friend-clutter by placing some  in an acquaintance group.

Regarding feeling  badly about disappointing people, not  meeting their expectations of you when those expectations are unreasonable and  selfish, once  you  understand the latter, say to  yourself: I feel badly but I didn’t do anything wrong. So I will endure this bad feeling.  Without thinking further, the bad feeling will go away.

anita