Matthew Querzoli

The Good Book

A practice in gratitude and the awareness of the infinite.

  • The residual heat from a freshly-ironed shirt in winter.
  • Not a cloud in the sky.
  • Sun on legs.
  • A song that fits like a puzzle piece into your current emotional state.
  • A book you just can't stop reading.
  • A story that makes you cry.
  • A dog looking for a pat.
  • Abatement of anxiety, even if only for a short while.
  • Rubbing sleep from your eyes.
  • A cool swim on a hot day.
  • Infectious laughter.
  • A well-earned, perspiring schooner of beer.
  • Fingers running through hair and nails scratching over scalp.
  • A flower dancing in the breeze.
  • Endorphins in the aftermath of a hard run.
  • Riding a skateboard over fresh, smooth asphalt.
  • Gulping down a glass of water when parched.
  • A lawnmower finally stopping on a Saturday afternoon.
  • Warm tea, with steam rising.
  • The penny-drop of understanding.
  • Seeing someone you love get excited and passionate about something.
  • The roar of close to 100,000 at the MCG.
  • A memory on a glossy photograph.
  • Sliding into fresh, clean sheets.
  • Electric blanket in winter.
  • Waking up knowing you've got bugger all to do today, and that's just fine.
  • Tiredness washed away by steaming coffee.
  • A song finishing on the radio the moment you arrive home.
  • The scent of buttered raisin toast in the late morning.
  • A heightened heartbeat buried below warm skin.
  • The steaming result of an audacious recipe.
  • Taking the last perfectly ripe banana from the fruit bowl.
  • Riding a bike with no particular destination, like you did when you were a kid.
  • A perfect run of green traffic lights.
  • The first sip of icy cold Gatorade the morning after a big one.
  • Heavy shackles falling off your shoulders after that final exam.
  • When you can't fight your eyes from closing; succumbing to sleep.
  • Rain and wind pummeling the window, while you lie under a mountain of blankets.
  • Dancing to Violent Soho while cooking gumbo.
  • The fact Violent Soho exist.
  • The excitement of moving out for the first time.
  • A clean tear of baking paper.
  • Your houseplant sprouting a new leaf, to thank you for all your hard work.
  • A cracking game of footy on TV, with beer in hand.
  • Friends revelling.
  • Revelling in friends.
  • Friends revelling in you.
  • Revelling in friends revelling.
  • Half-time orange slices.
  • Dogs just happy to out and about.
  • The calm aura of knowledge that a library exudes.
  • An early morning swim.
  • The crema of an espresso.
  • The inquisitivness of a child.
  • Writing a sentence that you're proud of everytime you go back to it.
  • A steaming hot shower; shampoo running from hair.
  • A sharp knife gliding through vegetables.
  • Being in that bubbly, laughing mood.
  • Giving someone a present you know they'll love.
  • A cheeseboard after dessert, to balance out the limoncello.
  • Music, laughter, meals with family.
  • A fitting farewell for a person who lived a good life and marked you before they departed.
  • When the bloody smart device just works.
  • A bloody great stretch.
  • Head-banging to punk.
  • A freshly-cleaned apartment.
  • Crushing a to-do list.
  • Sunflowers sticking out of a nice vase.
  • A painting that changes as the sun moves throughout the day.
  • A hot gozleme drizzled with lemon juice.
  • A routine happily sacrificed for a day, leading to something greater.
  • Something to look forward to.
  • Successfully avoiding biting nails for the day.
  • A touch of essential oils in a humidifier.
  • COIVD lockdown coinciding with a shit weather weekend.
  • A full cupboard and fridge of food.
  • Andy Golledge crooning 'Heavy Hand' on a lazy Sunday afternoon.
  • A random long weekend, that you didn't account for.
  • A candle spewing calming fumes into the lounge room.
  • A lace-out kick of the footy.
  • A cheeky hash brownie to mellow a lockdown evening.
  • That first glass sandwich at the pub after lockdown.
  • That first pub after lockdown.
  • After lockdown.
  • The washing done, relaxation beckoning.
  • An impulsive massage purchase.
  • The sweet smell of the first ripe mango of summer.
  • A fresh pineapple, cut at the perfect time.
  • A test match in the background of a sweltering summer day.
  • A surprisingly low electricity bill.
  • Having your accomplishments acknowledged at work.
  • Soda water, lime and ice. Oath.
  • A leisurely library browse.
  • Purging crap you've accumulated over the years.
  • Christmas lights, lasting well into the New Year.
  • Leftovers gifted by friends who can cook.
  • A first-ball wicket of a typically scrappy Sunday league cricket match.
  • Nailing a program the first time without any bugs.
  • Predicted thunderstorms which fail to materialise.
  • Wading through frangipani-and-jasmine-scented air on a sultry summer evening.