Lost in Laughter: A Journey Through My Childhood Memories | by Fareed Hussain

There’s a certain magic in childhood that time can’t steal. It hides in the scent of rain on dry earth, the echo of laughter echoing down a narrow street, and the sweet simplicity of days when happiness was as easy as catching a butterfly.

I often find myself wandering back to those golden years—not through photos or videos, but through the little things that sneak up on me: the smell of chalk, the jingle of an ice cream cart, or the distant tune of a cartoon I used to love. These small triggers open the door to memories I thought I had forgotten.

I remember racing with barefoot friends down sun-warmed streets, our feet dusty but free. We had no watches, no phones, no worries. Our world began at the front gate and ended at sunset. And somehow, that was more than enough.

Even the smallest things felt grand. A new pencil box. A surprise visit to the park. The excitement of Eid mornings or birthdays when we’d wear new clothes and feel like kings and queens. And the stories — oh, the stories we’d invent! Entire worlds created under a bed sheet or behind the sofa. Pirates, superheroes, shopkeepers — we were everything and nothing at once.

What I miss the most, though, is the innocence. We trusted easily. We forgave quickly. We didn’t judge ourselves the way adults do. There was no pressure to be perfect, only the joy of being present.

Now, as I navigate through the noise of adult life — deadlines, decisions, doubts — I find myself yearning for that child again. Not to escape life, but to remember how to live it better.

So here’s a small reminder to all who are reading: revisit your childhood once in a while. Not to get stuck in the past, but to refill your soul with the light you left behind.

After all, our childhood isn’t just a memory — it’s a guidebook we once wrote on how to be truly happy.