I came to Oxford with one goal: to visit a library. Not just any library—the oldest one, the iconic Bodleian. But when tickets were unavailable, I found myself stepping into Oxford Westgate Library, tucked inside a modern shopping centre. I climbed the stairs with excitement, maybe even expectation. But what greeted me was… ordinary
Still I stayed. And, something shifted.
I heard it — a gentle tune from a local player by the bookshelves. My mind began to drift with the music. In the middle of Oxford’s bustling city centre, I had stumbled into a quiet hideaway. A place where I could pause, breathe, and just be.
I wandered deeper, eventually finding my way into the children’s section—something I always seek out. There, surrounded by color, imagination, and tiny chairs, I allowed myself to be a kid again.
Sometimes, the most surprising part of a journey is what happens when we let go of what we expected to find. Being ordinary is part of life, but when we open our hearts—not just our eyes or ears—we may discover quiet joys that have been waiting for us all along.