Toddler Laughter

Love Letter No. 1

Yesterday when I was walking out from the local shop, weighed down by all the heavy things in my bag, navigating a double stroller, I heard the most beautiful sound in the world that took me out of myself. A little boy, pink and breathless from laughing, was running around and around a column of the building, while his dad pretended to catch him. His father looked gaunt and skinny. Wrinkles on wrinkles folded over a young face weighed with exhaustion and caffeine. But his face had that smile for his boy. The white-grey stubble stretching into the funny faces he made for him.

England is not in a good state right now. It seems the government, the institutions, the powers that be, all help themselves at the expense of the common man—at this common man. But this is a tale as old as time for those familiar with English history. Nevertheless, there was this little un-taxable clutch of joy in this moment with the man and his rosy-cheeked son.

The boy was maybe about three years old. His hands still had the dimples of infancy. His tiny baby teeth. His curly hair. He was at the age when laughter comes as easily as tears because the heart is so much more pure. The sound of his laughter filled the whole entire street and lit up the twilight path like an audible star, twinkling with happiness.

Our society does not like children. People complain about how unruly and needy they are. We hide them away in nurseries and day cares. We zombify them in front of Ms. Rachel and Cocomelon. Many parents count down the hours to nap time. It seems, so many of us were so busy waiting for them to just be quiet, that we forget how magical their laughter is. In fact, this is the most important thing. The laughter of a small child reminds us what is worth fighting for in this world. Their innocence, their beauty, their purity, are the only things worth protecting.

Everything else is secondary.

---

I hope you’ve enjoyed this first love letter to life. I was inspired to create this substack because I wanted to write about what is important in this world, what makes it beautiful and worth living. The name comes from the song “My Favourite Things” from the movie “The Sound of Music”. I loved the idea of thinking of the good things in life. Because they’re not merely silver linings to a cloud, or soothing distractions, rather, they are the central things. If you’d like to read more of my love letters, please subscribe! The love letters will always be free for now. But do send them to a friend who might need them. I call this publication chamomile tea for the soul, and don’t we all need more of that.

Love,

Megha