Sonia Majumder

I’ve been thinking about the last time I truly felt happy. Not the fleeting kind of happy, but the kind that wraps itself around your heart and lingers.

And it’s funny or maybe beautiful, which memories come rushing back, vivid and whole, like they’ve been waiting quietly for me to remember.

I think of the Red Sea in Jeddah. Of a cabin by the sea with my family, where the days were slow and sweet. I remember fishing in the quiet, snorkelling with my dad, following the movements of parrot fish as he pointed them out with a smile. There was no rush. No noise. Just the rhythm of the water and the joy of being together.

Then there was baking banana bread with my mom, flour everywhere, dough sticking to our fingers, the scent of cinnamon and honey filling the room. It was never about getting it perfect. It was about being present and enjoying the process.

And my grandfather, how I loved those quiet evenings with him. We’d sit side by side watching the news, and he’d tell me about the books he was reading and the one he was writing. He’d talk about his time at sea, seeing a mermaid, crossing oceans, waking up to sunrises over the water. He made me believe the world was big and full of wonder.

There’s a school memory too, a water fight with my childhood friends, laughter echoing through the halls, our uniforms soaked, our hearts light. We got caught, of course. A trip to the principal’s office was inevitable. But the joy? Worth every second.

Life now looks very different. It’s faster, busier and crazier with more responsibilities. But these memories, they’re my anchor. They remind me that joy doesn’t always come from big moments. Often, it’s found in the smallest things, sun on your skin, laughter in the kitchen, a story shared at just the right time.

So if I could tell my younger self anything, it would be this: Keep believing in yourself. In your heart, in the good, and in your self-worth, because it was always there. Your needs, feelings, and wants matter. You were doing it right. 

And when I think about it, love in all its forms has always been the thread that holds everything together. Whether it’s the unconditional love of family, the quiet understanding between friends, or the way someone’s presence can make the world feel still and safe.

It’s the love that makes those small moments unforgettable.