Awaken the Kid in You—A Holiday Realization at 30,000 Feet

by Dr Abhishek Gilara

Somewhere midair, as I was flying toward my holiday destination, I absentmindedly flipped through the inflight menu. I wasn’t even hungry—just distracted, still caught in the mood of deadlines, emails, and responsibilities. But then, something unexpected happened.

Tucked between two glossy pages was a hidden treasure—no, not a gourmet item, but a spontaneous masterpiece. A child had scribbled sketches right there—raw, imperfect, full of life. Maybe it was a happy face, a crooked tree, or a sun drawn with wild freedom. It wasn’t art for the world to praise—it was joy unfiltered.

And in that moment, I realised I was heading toward a break but still dragging along my work-worn mindset. I had packed my bags but not unpacked my stress.

Those childlike sketches reminded me of the person I used to be—the messy, curious, playful me. The kid who didn’t plan every second. The one who didn’t worry if the drawing was crooked or if the schedule was perfect. That’s the true spirit of a holiday—not the destination, but the transformation.

So the next time you travel, don’t just take your body on holiday—take your mind too. Let the child in you wake up. Let joy be your itinerary. Laugh louder. Eat slower. Explore without Google Maps.

Because sometimes, the best reminder of who we are comes not from a mirror but from the doodles of a child we’ve never met.

And maybe… that child is you.