There was a time when childhood meant more than screens or clicks. It was the sound of laughter echoing across dusty fields, the warmth of the afternoon sun, and the rhythm of bare feet chasing joy.

In villages across Vietnam, kids didn’t need much to play — just imagination. A stick became a sword, a few pebbles turned into treasure, and the earth itself was our playground. These games taught us balance, patience, and teamwork — lessons wrapped in laughter.

We played until the sky turned orange, until our mothers called us home for dinner. And even then, our hearts stayed outside, in the dirt, with our unfinished games and unspoken dreams.

Now, when we scroll through our phones and chase digital victories, it’s easy to forget how simple happiness once was. But those childhood moments remind us — joy doesn’t come from what we own, but from how deeply we live each second.

Maybe growing up doesn’t mean losing that part of us. Maybe it means learning how to find wonder again, even in the smallest things.