Exact Change

Most recently this happened to me at Tim Hortons. I order a coffee, muffin and bottle of water, it comes to $4.74. I reach into my wallet to find, not the oh so convenient five but, a bunch of twenties. As an aside a flush wallet in itself  always brightens my day. Before the cashier comes back with my order I remember I have a bunch of change in my coat pocket. I'm pretty sure I can scrounge up three quarters to ease the breaking of a beloved twenty. I reach in and grab some coins. When I reveal my first catch, it usually takes a couple to get the right combination, there are: two quarters, two dimes, four pennies and nothing else. I pulled out exact change, when that included four pennies! I pretty much hit the holy grail of finding change. I felt a little bit of sadness as I passed over the twenty and change to the cashier. This was a moment worth remembering and it was gone as quickly as it had come. The coffee was a little bitterer that day. How could it taste as sweet as the memorable change it had been bartered for? Till next time perfect handful of money, till next time.

Bookshelves

My bookshelf towers over my room. The seven foot behemoth, that I purchased from Ikea, is as glossy white as the day I got it. Dust coats the bottom shelf where I keep my textbooks, the most expensive and least read books in the tower. The rest of the bookshelf contains: philosophy, fiction, self-help, science, history, and an assortment of odds and ends that piqued my interest when my wallet was heavier. One of the greatest feelings when coming back from the bookstore is fitting in my new books. Getting to place a Bradbury, a Gibson, or a Herbert is always a joy. When motivated I leave a stack of unread books on the middle shelf; this little stack acts as a reminder that there are worlds left to explore. My bookshelf is both a teleporter and time machine; it has taken me to Ancient Greece, Middle Earth and the Cosmos. With all its glorious potential it brightens my day to simply have the bookshelf in my room. I leave you with an interesting bookshelf organization clip from youtube. 

Stopping to Smell the Roses

We have all been told from a young age to stop and smell the roses. And at a young age the words leave your mind to be replaced by the concerns of childhood: Did my mom pack dunkaroos for lunch? Where am I going to sit in the cafeteria? Is Shane going to bully me today? Is Rebecca going to notice I did ten push-ups yesterday? There is not any room in the mind of a youth for the frivolities of ageless wisdom. 


Not till the tender age of twenty-one did I give this expression a second thought. And oh what a second thought it was! Happiness was not a precious resource; to be experienced only on weekends and vacations. Happiness was surrounding me, enveloping me in its intoxicating aroma. If I had been told of this before stumbling upon it myself, I would of thought it a lie. 

I started this blog to capture the random thoughts, sights or events that brought joy to my life. What follows is my collection of joy.