It’s All in There

What if I told you of a place where you could learn anything, be anything, and become anything. You can dream, imagine, and grow, in silence, on your own. There is a such a place. It’s real. And it’s all in there.

Can you guess what this place is? It’s a bookshop, a library, a bookshelf in your house.

Some libraries in famous universities or large cities are magnificent. The walls lined with books on solid wooden structures ornamented with rich carvings, reach heavenward with sliding ladders. Stained glass windows let in just enough light, while single pendant lights highlight the written words for the silent reader. And on every categorized shelf, books that can enlighten and shift a world.

I have been in many, many libraries and bookstores and have loved every one. From large gothic structures to the local bookshop in seeming disarray.

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I had driven by The Alphabet Bookshop in Port Colborne several times, always wanting to wander in, and never did. But on this particular day, I finally did!

The shop is in an old Victorian house. Peeling paint on the porch railing adds to its charm. There a bookstand sits with a handwritten sign, while the storm door sits propped open in invitation.

I open the painted wooden door to enter this world of wonder, and I’m not disappointed. There are books everywhere. From floor to pressed tin ceiling. Neatly categorized on shelves and stacked on the floor and tables. What a wonder!

Amongst the books there are other historical items, old photographs, vintage greeting cards, little tins and collectibles from a bygone era.

And inside, between these brick walls there is so much knowledge and a world of wonder and imagination.

Libraries and bookshops are loved for the books of course, but they are also a place where you can go slow, wander and ponder. Where quiet and silence are appreciated. I’ve spent plenty of time in such places with my children. And have sought out these spaces on my own as well.

As a young student I spent a fair bit of my life in libraries. The world was opening up to me through books. And I often thought about how one turn of the page can change your life, by changing your perspective and altering your mindset.

Along with the words, there’s also the joy of a book in your hand. The smooth feel of a page, the sound of its turning, the scent of paper and print.

Books are a sensory experience. And can also be an illusory experience. Full of joy and wonder. Wisdom and inspiration. Imagination and delight. They hold power and purpose. Knowledge and curiosity. Depth and dissolution. Stories and yearnings. It’s all in there.

I have begun to write one. It will take a long time between research and writing, but the journey has begun. And there’s joy in that journey too.

I know some of you have written books. Share yours in the comments below for everyone to see. You never know whose world you’ll shape and whose life will change with your words.

If you haven’t written a book, yet! Have you ever wanted too? I do think we all have at least one book in us. What do you think?

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This past week, Mel from Lifeonebigadventure.com wrote about State Library Victoria in Melbourne. A fascinating place for its architecture, ambiance and of course books. Read it here https://lifeonebigadventure.com/2024/03/06/strolling-the-stunning-stupendous-halls-of-the-state-library-victoria-melbourne/

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Write a post, like a gratitude journal about something joyful you’ve experienced on this journey to joy. Link your post in comments by next Friday, and I’ll share it in my next Saturday’s post.