When I was a kid, at Disneyland, they used to sell Animation Cels

When Tim Matheson spoke of his childhood memories, saying, “When I was a kid, at Disneyland, they used to sell Animation Cels for $5.00 at a Fantasyland store. They were called Courvoisier Cels. I was too young to be aware of just how cool that really was,” he revealed a deeper truth that all great moments of our lives are often hidden in plain sight. In the innocence of youth, we do not always comprehend the significance of what we are witnessing, nor do we realize the treasure that lies before us. The idea that something so profound, so simple, could be overlooked until later in life is a theme that spans across human experience. In this, Tim Matheson reminds us that true value is often unrecognized in the moment.

Consider the ancients, who believed that the present moment holds immense significance—yet, like young Matheson, we often fail to grasp it fully. The philosopher Heraclitus taught that all things flow, that nothing stays the same. This ever-moving river of time carries us through moments that we do not always understand until the ripples of their meaning become clearer as we grow. Just as Heraclitus saw wisdom in the constant change of the world, Matheson’s reflection reveals a similar lesson—that value is not always seen at the moment of encounter, but unfolds over time. What once seemed ordinary can later be recognized as extraordinary.

The Courvoisier Cels, though only $5.00 at the time, were small pieces of artistic history, snapshots of Disney’s magical animation. For Matheson, this piece of childhood memorabilia was part of a world far beyond his youthful comprehension. He was too young to realize that he was standing at the threshold of something that would grow in importance, not just in his personal memory, but in the broader cultural landscape. How often do we, too, walk through life with eyes too young, too hurried, or too distracted to fully appreciate the treasures at our feet?

In the same way, Leonardo da Vinci’s humble notebooks, filled with sketches and designs, were once seen merely as the musings of a man with a curious mind. Only centuries later did we come to realize the value of his work—how his ideas on anatomy, flight, and invention were ahead of his time. Da Vinci’s genius was not immediately recognized, just as Matheson’s youthful encounter with the Animation Cels seemed insignificant in the moment. This is the lesson that the passage of time imparts: what seems small, what seems ordinary, is often just a glimpse into something far greater that we cannot yet comprehend.

Matheson’s reflection also calls us to value the things we overlook—those small, seemingly inconsequential moments that, in hindsight, form the foundation of our lives. As Marcus Aurelius once wrote, “The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it.” The things we dismiss in our youth may become the cornerstone of our wisdom in adulthood. The Animation Cels were more than just inexpensive art; they were the thread that connected Matheson to the larger tapestry of culture, nostalgia, and personal growth. In time, we come to understand the value of what we once could not see.

This speaks not only to the past but to the future as well. How many moments in your life are you currently walking past, unaware of their importance? Perhaps it is a conversation, a simple gesture of kindness, or a fleeting opportunity that will one day stand out as a defining moment. The present is the birthplace of our future understanding. It is in the mundane that the extraordinary often hides. We must learn to look at the world through the eyes of someone who knows that the most significant moments are sometimes the smallest.

Thus, the lesson here is clear: do not rush through life without appreciating the seemingly insignificant moments. Take time to pause and reflect on the simple things, for in them often lies the foundation for something far greater. Like Tim Matheson, who in his later years came to understand the significance of the Animation Cels, we too must grow into our understanding of what truly matters. Learn to recognize value in what is present before you, for the future will reveal its importance in ways you cannot yet imagine.

Live fully in the moment, understanding that the seeds of greatness are often planted in the smallest of actions. The world is full of hidden treasures, but we must train our eyes and hearts to recognize them. Do not wait for time to reveal their significance. Embrace the present, for it is where your future wisdom will sprout.