Little Treasures #10
A collection of glimmers and gold dust for some extra weekend sparkle!
Book Shop Bliss
I’ve been reflecting on the bliss of bookshops this past week, and all the joy they’ve brought me through each stage of my life.
I inherited my love of books from my brilliant Dad, and have so many fond memories of trips to the local library in my childhood, including the Summer reading challenge they would run, which I’d try to complete each year! It always felt like such a treat walking through those doors and wondering what I might find on the shelves that week, which maybe I’d missed before.
And then there was the local bookshop, called The Gazette, which, as far as I know, is still going strong! I would rush there with glee after birthdays and Christmases with my collection of proper old-fashioned book tokens, excited to see what I could bring home with me! In fact, I still have my copies of The Narnia Chronicles, which I collected over time and absolutely loved. I lost count of the number of times I read them. And as I type this, I wonder if it might be time to revisit them once more!
There was something magical about that little shop. I was wide-eyed with anticipation every time we visited, and I very much remember Liz, the lovely lady who worked there. I can almost hear the rustle of the blue and white striped paper bags she’d pop my purchases into! I couldn’t wait to get home and start reading!
And so that was where my love of books and bookshops began!
When I moved to Cambridge in my early 20s, there was Heffers, which has been open since 1876, and was like an Aladdin’s cave of literary treats! Around that time, I went through a phase of reading less, but was still compelled to visit the shop and take in the beauty of all of those stunningly colorful displays of stacks and stacks of wisdom!
On several occasions, I succumbed to “tsundoku,” a Japanese term that describes the action of buying a book, and then never quite getting around to reading it! I have several of those that crossed The Pond with us and should make it my mission to give them some love!
Heffers came into its own once more after the boys were born, and I made it my mission to nurture their love of books and stories. They were especially huge fans of Julia Donaldson’s “The Gruffalo” in those pre-school years and have worked their way through the entire series of Harry Potter and Percy Jackson in the years since. My eldest son now mostly either has a soccer ball at his feet or his head buried in a book, and I know that would make my Dad very proud!
Then there have been the holiday book stores, for whiling away some of those restful vacation hours. Most notably for me, that conjures up Southwold Books on the Suffolk coast, which I have a feeling was called the Orwell Book Store when I was a child enjoying Summers in the town. I’m not sure if it was named after the river, or the author, which would likely make most sense - note to self to research that!
It was there that we bought The Big Map Book, which is now infamous in Corbin family history! It’s a beautifully illustrated atlas that includes an array of facts about each country, accompanied by drawings including birds, animals, monuments, and a whole host of other local treasures. It formed the basis of a game we would play in Covid Times, where one of us would read out the interesting facts and the rest had to guess the country. Truly hours of fun!
On this side of the pond, my favorite holiday book shop has to be Sandbar Books in Tavernier, on the Florida Keys. We were there a few years back, and it was such a wonderful place to spend time. And it was next to the supermarket, which meant we popped in nearly every day of our stay. The folks were super friendly, and the selection was awesome for adults and kids alike. I still have the bookmark they gave me with my purchase as a reminder of such a glorious spot.
Sticking on this side of The Pond….
Our first home here in the US was in the beautiful and historic city of Alexandria, Virginia. In those first weeks, as I tried to find my feet with a 3-year-old and 5-year-old in tow, I found such solace in the city’s bookshop! It was truly at the heart of the community and would put on reading events for the kids, which was perfect for me as I made it my mission to make new friends and create a sense of routine for the boys.
It was a full circle moment to see the author of one of my favorite reads of last year, Irreplaceable by Kevin Ervin Kelley, post about being in the city’s bookstore last week signing copies. It truly is a small world!
And so therein is the story of my passion for books and bookshops.
In the words of Tahereh Mafi:
“I love walking into a bookstore. It's like all my friends are sitting on shelves, waving their pages at me.”
Bookshops are truly the most splendid of places and have been like an anchor through my travels in this life. I’m still on the lookout for a good independent bookshop here in Dallas, and if I’m lucky enough to win the lottery one day, I might just have to make it my mission to open one and pay it forward for all of the brilliant experiences bookshops have brought me over the years!
This Week’s Favorite “Pebble”
If you read the first ever installment of “Little Treasures,” you’ll know about “pebbling,” which is the act of penguins gifting pebbles to each other as tokens of appreciation. Adam Grant had compared this to how we send friends memes and GIFs in this digital age, and it reminded me of how, every now and then, my mum still sends me a clipping from the local newspaper that she thinks I’ll enjoy.
So this week, a fantastic friend “pebbled” me with this little snip, and it really did make my day! It also made a whole lot of sense as to why I find bird song so calming. It’s amazing to think that it’s something so inherent in us that’s been happening for thousands of years!
As the days get longer with a 6 am sunrise now here, I’m glorying in being gently woken by the singing of the local mocking birds. Well, that is until our puppy Rex decides it’s time to nudge me less than gently out of bed!
Pebbling is such a beautiful act of kindness and something I want to do more of. I wonder what you’ve pebbled this week to bring a little bit of extra joy to someone’s day?
This Week’s Book Recommendations
There are two books currently residing on my desk that have had a really positive impact on me this week, so they’re top of my list to feature here in case they haven’t yet crossed your path!
The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier, which I first read last year and then re-visited this week with a group coaching cohort. It’s such incredibly powerful stuff and so beautifully simple to put into practice for any leader looking to develop their people. As it says on the cover, “Say Less, Ask More and Change The Way You Lead Forever.” Highly recommended!
Say It With Impact by JB Ryan. I’ve been really looking forward to the launch of this one, having had the chance to meet and connect with JB through our beloved beer industry. I’ve mentioned it here before, but I always find that knowing the author of a book brings a whole additional layer of magic to the reading experience. And I’m super thankful to know so many talented and amazing writers! If you’re looking to hone your presentation skills (and it’s something I’m working on every single day!), then this book is for you!
Reflection Corner….
“Reflection Corner” is back this week, with a focus on the theme of books:
“Think back to a book that deeply resonated with you, not just because of the story, but because of what it awakened in you. How did it challenge your thinking, shift your perspective, or inspire personal growth?
Describe the experience of reading it and the ways it still lingers in your life today.”
Little things that brought added sparkle to my week…..
The very first sighting of a hummingbird in the garden for 2025! I’ve been waiting so patiently for him to arrive, and then on a glorious sunny Sunday afternoon, there he was! And then he was gone just as quickly, of course! It’s so wonderful to have him back, and I’m looking forward to more sightings as the Summer gets fully underway!
An incredibly thoughtful gift in the mail from another fabulous friend, which brought me such a warm glow! There’s something so special for me in receiving things through snail mail. It probably dates back to my teenage years when I would gleefully anticipate beautifully illustrated letters from a pen pal I had, which would regularly show up on the doorstep. Those halcyon, slower-paced days before the internet and instant gratification.. With it being so busy at Corbin Towers, I’ve not been as good this year at sending cards and letters, and it’s made me realize I need to get that habit back on track.
A Spotify 90s playlist played loudly on a mid-week night! I always call 1995 my vintage year, it’s the year I left school and my grown-up adventures truly began! It brought with it a scorching Summer in England, which doesn’t happen often. And the soundtrack to that year was filled with Oasis, Blur, Pulp, Radiohead, Stone Roses…..an endless list of Britpop. Just playing those songs on a routine Wednesday night took me back in time and felt almost decadent. The power of music is a magical thing!
Thank You, Dear Reader!
And with all that said…..
Thanks so much for reading “Little Treasures” this week. If you’ve enjoyed it, please share with your friends, and I look forward to catching up again next weekend! Have a wonderful week ahead, and a wonderful May Day Weekend to my readers in the UK!
Sparkle & Shine!
Lynds
A little bit about me….
I’m Lynds Corbin - a commercial capabilities change-maker, coach, mentor, eternal optimist, book lover, Olympic-level tea drinker, and sideline-loving soccer mum.
I write about the joy that comes from the little treasures that show up in our lives every single day.
You can follow me on Linkedin HERE if you’d like to.