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A Bird in Hand—And the Joy of Watching It Appear

They say a bird in hand is worth two in the bush. But what about a bird drawn on a hand?

For a child, it’s magic. A few careful strokes, a little waiting, and suddenly, a bird appears—etched in Mehendi, alive in her imagination. The flutter in her eyes, the quiet twitch at the corner of her mouth—it’s a joy no real bird could match.

It’s not the big toys that bring the deepest happiness. Sure, they shine. But the small moments, the ones spent laughing, waiting, watching something take shape—those stay green in the mind.

Because joy isn’t just in what we hold. It’s in what we create.

Splash for Fun, Swim for Distance: A Lesson from the Pool

To splash around is pure joy. Water flying, laughter echoing—no real destination, just the thrill of movement.

But splashing doesn’t take you far. To cross the pool, it takes strokes, rhythm, glides, and quiet effort beneath the surface.

Some live life in a series of splashes—all energy, no direction. Others move smoothly, silently, covering distance with precision.

The little miss in the pool isn’t interested in all that. She just wants to splash. And that’s okay.

Because in a kid’s world, the fun is in the splash.

And maybe, just maybe, we should let them have that—before the swimming begins.

(at Bangkok, Thailand)