# Awaken Your Inner Child #

Daily writing prompt
What was the last thing you did for play or fun?

Hello dear friends,

I hope this blog finds you smiling—perhaps even with that tiny spark of childhood mischief dancing quietly in your eyes.

Today’s writing prompt asks a deceptively simple question:
What was the last thing you did purely for play or fun?

And just like that, I am carried back to sunlit memories of childhood—when fun wasn’t scheduled, justified, or postponed. It was simply life itself.

Back then, joy arrived effortlessly.

Yes, it came disguised as a game of tag beneath a mango tree, shared laughter after slipping in the mud.

And, sometimes, long afternoons spent building imaginary kingdoms out of sticks, sand, and boundless imagination.
There was no planning, no guilt, no need for validation—only pure, unfiltered play.

We begin to treat fun like a luxury—something to be earned after responsibilities are met. Something reserved for rare holidays.

Sometimes, something we even feel embarrassed to desire. Yet the heart does not forget. Beneath years of routines and obligations, it still longs for moments of silliness, creativity, and freedom.

So, what was the last thing I did for fun?

Surprisingly, the memory that surfaces first comes from my working years at the bank, during a particularly stressful assignment.

Recognizing the mounting pressure, the organization took a thoughtful initiative and sent us to a training center for a week. Instead of lectures and targets, we were given something unexpected: toys.

We played simple children’s games, built structures with colorful bricks, passed bright plastic balls around in circles, and laughed without restraint.

That vivid pink ball, in particular, unlocked something forgotten inside us. For that one week, we weren’t employees or problem-solvers—we were children again. Free, light, and joyfully present.

After retirement, fun returned in a more intimate, tender form—through my granddaughter.

One afternoon, a simple game of passing a ball turned into an uncontrollable giggle-fest.

We challenged each other to invent the silliest ways to catch it—with elbows, hopping on one leg, eyes closed. By the end, we were both on the floor, laughing until our sides hurt.

My body felt tired, but my heart felt wonderfully light.

That moment reminded me:
play doesn’t diminish us as adults—it restores us.

Of course, fun doesn’t always look playful or silly. Sometimes, it arrives as a quiet adventure. Kayaking, for instance, brings a rhythm that calms the mind while awakening the spirit.

But, my favourite, at other times, it’s a spontaneous journey—to Darjeeling or Gangtok—where cool mountain air and misty streets gently untangle life’s worries.

Sitting with a cup of tea under Kanchenjunga’s watchful presence reminds me that exploration has no age limit.

Whether through laughter at home or solitude in the hills, all these moments point to one truth:

If you’re reading this and thinking, “I don’t even remember the last time I had fun,” you’re not alone.

Many of us forget how to play—not because we’ve lost the ability, but because we’ve forgotten to give ourselves permission.

Let Go of Inhibitions

Worried about looking silly? That’s exactly where fun begins. Silliness is freedom.

Be Spontaneous

Some of life’s best moments are unplanned. Say yes to the unexpected.

Share Joy with Loved Ones

Laughter strengthens bonds in ways words cannot. Play together.

Experiment Creatively

Paint boldly. Write freely. Garden imperfectly. Creativity is play for the soul.

Break the Routine

Dance while cooking. Sing while cleaning. Leave a silly note behind. Small joys matter.

Fun is more than a mood—it is a celebration of being alive. No matter our age, roles, or responsibilities, an inner child still lives within us, waiting patiently to laugh, explore, and feel free.

The last thing I did for fun didn’t just brighten a moment—it created a memory that will live on in my heart.

And that is the beauty of play:
It asks for no money, no perfection, and no permission—only a willing yes.

So, dear reader, I leave you with the same question:

What was the last thing you did for play or fun?

Maybe today is the perfect day to find your answer.

BE HAPPY… BE ACTIVE… BE FOCUSED… BE ALIVE

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 www.retiredkalam.com



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14 replies

  1. What a beautiful and profound reflection, Verma ji. You have not just answered a prompt, but woven a tapestry of wisdom that connects the innocence of childhood to the often overlooked joys of adulthood. Your words carry the gentle weight of lived experience, reminding us that play is not a frivolous escape but a vital homecoming.

    The journey you describe—from the mango-tree days to the training room with that vivid pink ball, and now to the floor laughing with your granddaughter—is a masterclass in living fully. You show us that fun is a thread that runs through every chapter of life; we need only to reach for it. The image of you kayaking on calm waters or sipping tea under Kanchenjunga’s gaze is especially poignant—a testament that play can be both exuberant and serene, shared or solitary.

    Your message is a gift: a permission slip to the soul. It’s true, we forget to give ourselves that permission, burying it under routines and “shoulds.” But your gentle reminders—to be silly, spontaneous, and creatively imperfect—are like keys unlocking a door we’ve closed for too long.

    Thank you, Verma ji, for this heartfelt submission. It is more than a memory; it is an invitation. You remind us that the heart never ages, and that a willing “yes” to joy is perhaps the most profound wisdom we can carry. Today, because of you, many of us will look for our own moment of play. And that is a truly wonderful legacy.

    With warm regards and deep appreciation.
    Srikanth

    Liked by 2 people

    • Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful words.
      I’m truly touched that my reflections resonated with you.
      It warms my heart to know that the joy of simple, playful moments can inspire others to reconnect with their own sense of wonder.
      Your appreciation itself is a beautiful reminder of why sharing these memories matters.

      Liked by 1 person

  2. Verma ji, to rediscovering play—from pink ball giggles to mountain escapes—beautifully reminds us that fun is the heartbeat of being alive, no matter our age!

    Liked by 2 people

  3. No matter how old we are, play continues to be fun and an important element in creativity. Fun post, Vijay.

    Liked by 3 people

  4. Verma, this felt like a warm rewind button. The toy week during your banking days made me smile because it shows how badly adults need permission to play, and how quickly we return to ourselves when we get it. And the moments with your granddaughter felt so real…

    That kind of laughter might tire us physically, but surge of childlike happiness for our heart and soul.

    I also liked how fun showed up in different forms for you. Sometimes noisy and silly, sometimes quiet like kayaking or sitting with tea in the hills. It’s a good reminder that play doesn’t have to look one way. It just has to make us feel a little more alive.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Thank you so much for this thoughtful reflection. I’m really touched by how deeply you connected with those moments. You’re absolutely right—adults often wait for “permission” to play, and when it arrives, something long-dormant in us wakes up so naturally.

      Liked by 2 people

  5. Absolutely 💯 and it also feels great to even just think of those childlike fun activities 😀 so thank you for sharing!

    Liked by 2 people

    • Absolutely—and I’m so glad you felt that way 😊
      Just thinking about those small, childlike joys can lighten the heart, can’t it?
      Thank you for receiving it so warmly and for sharing that energy back.
      Moments like these remind us that play and joy never really leave us—they’re just waiting to be remembered.

      Liked by 2 people

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