Let Your Inner Child Ride The Train

You know what sparked this post today? A tiny toy train ride🚂. And an old man who reminded me what it means to stay alive. Truly alive.

I couldn’t wait to write this one. Maybe because my inner child had a lot to say. And sometimes, it is those small, unexpected moments that wake her up the loudest.

The Train Ride That Sparked It All

Last weekend, I was at the Old Port in Montreal. My friend and I spotted a little toy train, the kind meant for children and anyone young at heart. The driver, an elderly man with the most playful twinkle in his eyes, greeted us with a smile and a mischievous joke.

"This train is going to Vancouver!" he announced, pretending we were about to embark on some grand adventure. I laughed and asked him to say it again while I recorded a video. And right then, he started singing a beautiful French poem about the train heading toward the mountains.

Before we got on, he even asked us which color compartment we wanted to sit in. And I remember myself saying "Yellow" with the kind of childlike happiness you don’t even try to hide. 💛

That moment stayed with me.

As I sat in that bright yellow compartment, something inside me giggled first, before I even did. You know that feeling? When you catch yourself grinning for no reason? That was my inner child. Peeking out, alive and kicking. The part of me who used to burst into laughter at the tiniest joke, feel giddy over finishing an ice cream cone just to find that “chocolate filling” surprise at the bottom, or rest her head on her mother’s lap and feel like the tiniest baby girl again.

Just a little glimpse of the toy train going round and round...and me having way too much fun watching it. 🚂💛

How I Forgot, And How I Remembered

I kind of realized, somewhere along the way, I had gone on autopilot. Like many of us do. The journey from that carefree child to the so-called responsible adult had piled up layers I didn’t even notice. Toxic triggers, beliefs I had picked up without knowing, expectations I kept chasing. The big things took over. Career, life, milestones. And without meaning to, I buried my inner child so deep that I stopped noticing the small, beautiful things. I forgot how it even felt to laugh fully. I forgot so many memories from my childhood, lost somewhere inside a mind running on default mode.

But there I was. On a toy train, giggling with my friend, memories rushing back.

I remembered school trips where we would squeeze into tiny trains, vacations with family, the uncontainable excitement of childhood adventures. And I realized something beautiful. I am healing. My inner child is not gone. She is awake, laughing, showing up in the little things. (If you want a few glimpses of this recent joy ride, I have a collection of IG Stories saved under Tiny Treasures in my Highlights. ✨)

I think, in a way, I have been healing for a while now. If you look at the little things I share, the tiny joys I hold on to, it’s all been there. I guess I just didn’t fully realize it. Maybe it took this old gentleman and this tiny train ride to show me that my inner child isn’t just visiting....she is here, she is back, and she is giggling again. And I think that says more about healing than anything else.

It also reminded me of something I had written a while ago...a little blog post called Life Through a New Lens. I often ask the universe to show me something beautiful, something that shifts my perspective a little. That day, this tiny train did exactly that. You can read that post here.

Letting My Inner Child Breathe Again

You know what I’ve realized?

When you start doing the little things you genuinely love, without thinking how weird or childish it might sound to others, that’s when you let your inner child breathe again.

I notice it in those small rituals.

Choosing the window seat on a bus or train because it makes me happy.

Cooking my favorite food and calling my mom to proudly tell her how it turned out.

Walking to my favorite spots while daydreaming, grinning to myself.

Going for walks and catching myself smiling at the sky.

Writing or drawing and losing track of time.

Singing at the top of my lungs or dancing in my room.

Randomly giggling out loud for no reason, not caring if anyone thinks I am weird.

And yes, some joys remain gloriously unchanged.

I still eat every bite of an ice cream cone just to get to that chocolate surprise at the bottom!!! 🍦

I still lick the cream off one side of the biscuits first!!!

I still check the color of my tongue after eating jamun!!!(Java Plum). 😋

I still make silly faces to make children laugh, louder and sillier if needed!!! 🤪

I am never giving up on these parts of me. Never.

A Little Reminder For You Too

That old man, full of life and joy, gave me the most beautiful reminder. One day, I hope I am that joyful old woman with wide eyes full of wonder. I hope I never stop being curious. I hope I never stop being the version of me who feels delight at simple things. I want to age gracefully, of course. But deep down, I also want to stay simple. Childlike, in the best way. I may grow older on the outside, but in my mind and heart, I never plan to. Not now, not ever. I will gladly collect the birthdays, but I have no plans to act my age. I want to stay curious, a little silly, and very much a child at heart. Wrinkles can come, but the giggles are staying.

And if you are reading this, I hope the same for you too.

Keep your inner child alive.

Protect it fiercely.

Let it laugh loudly and unapologetically.

Because this life is meant to be lived through eyes full of curiosity and wonder. And it is the little things that bring the biggest joys.💜

And now I want to know.

What are some little things that bring out your inner child? When was the last time you laughed so hard or did something silly just for the fun of it? Do you have a tiny ritual or moment that always makes you feel alive again?

Tell me in the comments. I am genuinely curious and would love to read your stories. And if you don’t feel like sharing it publicly, you can always DM me on Instagram too. I would love to hear from you. 💌