Celebrating the Inner Child on Children’s Day

It was Children’s Day on 14th November. Like every year on Chacha Nehru’s birthday, I was reminded how wonderful it was to celebrate this day in our school as a child. Teachers treated us with special care by organising fun activities and games, showering us with beautiful gifts and our favourite sweets.

Cut to today, it was Children’s Day and all I did was reminisce about my school celebration. As an adult, I wondered if I should be celebrating this occasion today. With life’s big responsibilities and all the hustle, this day lost its significance for me until I opened the drawer in my cupboard and found a picture of a 8-year-old me. As I looked at her, all the jubilant feelings came to me. Seeing this little Priya with her innocent and mischievous smile made me wonder how easy it was for me to forget that this little Priya is still a big part of my life, and that we have had such an amazing adventurous life journey so far.

All the beautiful memories came rushing to me how this little Priya was the one who used to marvel at the stars, who found joy in the simplest moments, and who believed that dreams could come true.

Little Priya on Goa Beach

That picture reminded me of how within each of us lives an inner child. As an adult when we are constantly expected to focus on responsibilities and deal with external and future pressures, we forget to nurture our inner child that needs just as much care, attention, and love as the adult we’ve become.

So how do we do that? By giving ourselves permission to laugh, to rest, to be curious, to make mistakes and to approach life with the wonder and excitement that we once had. Like a child who always found moments of joy in the present, without worrying about what’s next.

So today I ask you to go ahead and be gentle with yourself. Dance in the kitchen. Take a walk and look for shapes in the clouds. Allow yourself to dream, even if it feels a little silly. You deserve it, and your inner child is cheering you on, ready to remind you that there is always room for wonder, even in adulthood.

Remember, you’re never too old to be young at heart. And your inner child is always there, waiting for you to come back and play. Thank you, little Priya, for reminding me that I can still celebrate Children’s Day and celebrate the love that I have for you.