Before life became complicated

How I wish we could turn back time. I wish I could go back to the period when happiness did not require money, achievements, relationships, or an explanation. A time when the biggest problem we had was being scolded. Looking back now, I sometimes wonder when life became so complicated. As children, we found happiness in the smallest things. Getting our favorite snacks could make an ordinary afternoon feel special. Playing with friends until the sky became dark, riding bicycles around the neighborhood, watching our favorite cartoons, or sitting outside with family was enough to make us happy. We did not worry about tomorrow because tomorrow was too far away. Our biggest concern was what we would eat for dinner or whether our parents would allow us to play outside again. Friendships were also different. We did not choose friends based on what they had or what they could offer us. If someone was willing to share their biscuit or let us join their game, that was enough. Arguments rarely lasted long. We could fight in the afternoon and return to playing together before sunset. There were no silent treatments, complicated relationships, or hidden intentions. Everything felt honest. Then, we grew older. Responsibilities began to replace freedom. School became more serious. Expectations became heavier. We started thinking about examinations, careers, money, relationships, and the future. People who once seemed like friends became strangers, and some of the people we trusted taught us that not everyone has the same heart as we do. Growing up also taught us that happiness is not always automatic. Sometimes we have to work for it. We began to understand that our parents had worries they never told us about. Bills had to be paid. Decisions had consequences. Mistakes could affect our future. The world that once looked so colourful began to reveal its difficult sides. Maybe that is what makes growing up painful. We do not suddenly lose our childhood but slowly we lose the way we see the world Sometimes, I miss the person I was before life became complicated. I miss having fewer questions and fewer things to worry about. I miss the days when a simple evening could feel like an adventure and happiness could come from something as small as laughter with friends. But maybe life becoming complicated is not entirely a bad thing. Growing up teaches us things childhood never could. It teaches responsibility, patience, resilience, and appreciation. It teaches us to value the people who stay, to learn from the people who leave, and to understand that life will not always be easy. We cannot return to the days before life became complicated. Time does not move backwards. But we can carry a small part of that simplicity with us. We can still laugh without a reason, enjoy ordinary moments, appreciate the people we love, and remind ourselves that life does not have to be perfect for it to be beautiful. Before life became complicated, we simply lived, and growing up is learning how to live again, even after discovering how complicated life can be.

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