50 Tiny Cogs

Written By: Zachary Kai » Published: 15 Feb 2026 | Updated: 15 Feb 2026

Fifty tiny things that give my life meaning, inspired by the exercise in 'Little Addictions' by Catherine Gray. If you want to participate, why not make a post?

The wonderful sensation of a heavy blanket or wearing my oversize hoodie.
Having curly hair. I used to dislike it as a kid, but (forgive me) marvel at it now.
My such tiny hands giving me the gift of my favorite thing in the world: making stuff.
Freckles! I love how they form mini constellations on folks' skin.
Asking people about the meaning behind their tattoos. Such heartfelt stories.
Walking through places and noticing the tiny details: forgotten detritus, interesting mini pieces of graffiti, a stranger's smile, an interesting color scheme.
Fresh fruits and veggies. I adore lettuce.
The almost-magicial transformation beans undergo when you soak and cook them.
Reading. Perhaps not such a tiny thing, but it means everything to me.
Knowing I can bring joy to people's lives with the HTML I write, however fleeting.
Vintage animation. I love all the old experimental Disney cartoons and films.
The books people place on their shelves. Always worth browsing!
Finding a new personal website to poke around on.
The way the sunlight hits the clouds when it goes down for the day.
Kids and their effervesecent fascination and joy. Remember what that was like?
Finding clothes that fit well.
Snagging an unexpected treasure at an op-shop.
Receiving an email or letter from a kind stranger.
How even the simplest habits have a profound impact: flossing, for example.
Overcast days. How I adore them!
The whimsical stickers people put on their cars.
Making things for its own sake, not with an end in mind.
Sticky fingers after collaging with who knows how many layers.
Water. Boring, perhaps, but it's my favorite beverage. Never gets old.
The sheer magic that is stop-motion animation. It's just extraordinary.
Combining cheese and tomato in a sandwich. They work together so well.
Comics. Though I don't read them that often, they're an incredible storytelling form.
Listening to buskers as I walk past. Nothing like music in a public space.
Seeing the art people decorate their homes with.
Hearing about the mundane joys in people's lives.
The faint-vanilla smell from a paperback book.
And related, the glossy-print smell from a hardcover.
The excitement whenever a new podcast episode or video appears.
Counting down the days until an album or Star Wars project releases.
The honeyed glow some older lamps give off.
Cushions! They're soft and cuddly and look wonderful on a couch.
Listening to music with friends and comparing tastes.
Sharing a meal with others.
Baking! The learning process and delicious results are unmatched.
The lovely tidiness of indented and commented code.
Reading the acknowledgements in the back of a book.
Trying a local specialty for the first time.
Pickles! How I adore them.
Wandering through random side-streets to see what's there.
Spending hours trapising around museums and galleries.
Browsing at a bookstore or the library.
Seeing what's on offer at a supermarket I haven't visited before.
How travel makes even the mundane an adventure.
Waking up after an excellent night's sleep.
Watching a thoughtful video essay.

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