The past few months have been quite overwhelming in India and it is now getting slightly better with a dip in the number of fresh COVID cases. It’s not that we are out of the woods yet, but I hope the decline continues for good and the impending third wave is milder if it arrives. Like many others, I too found it hard to stay afloat. Since then I have been looking for solace, hope and happiness amidst the clouds of gloom. One afternoon, I stumbled upon Shin-Chan while aimlessly browsing the apps on TV. I was fond of Shin-Chan back in my teenage years and thought a little nostalgia would do no harm. I was seeking a sense of familiarity and stability along with a dose of light humour to distract myself so I picked Shin-Chan. It was comforting to dissolve into the carefree world of a child and his adventures with friends and family. This time I am seeing it all again in a new light and have noticed a few life-important lessons too:

• Being in the present moment. In the episodes I have seen so far, Shin-Chan never worries about the future or frets over his past. Thus, no anxiety, over-thinking or stress, though he does induce hysteria in his near and dear ones with his mischiefs. He takes it easy every time and finds a way out (no matter how silly) from his troubles. In fact, he nips them in the bud with his wit, indifference and smartness.

• Why so serious? Humour has a tendency to bring you out smoothly from all your concerns. It may seem difficult to smile through difficult situations, but then a long face has never solved problems, has it? Be naughty, be happy!

• Be curious. Asking questions never makes you look stupid, the more you ask, the more you will learn. Curiosity and wonder keep you alive and enthusiastic, and you never know when it will fire your imagination for something innovative. At times Shin-Chan’s questions annoy others, but then he is only five years old and this is how he will grow up to be an intelligent boy.

• Be creative. Where’s the fun if every problem had a straightforward solution? Shin-Chan (even his pet too) has a knack to find out-of-the-box solutions. He is lazy, but then he finds innovative ways to get the job done. I remember this episode where he helped his Mom to separate green tea from the other tea leaves when they got mixed up accidentally. They managed to separate them but then the leaves got mixed up all again. In the end, when nothing worked they prepared the green tea at one go from the mix of tea leaves and kept it in a fridge to prevent wastage. Shin-Chan also helped a nervous boxer train in a park for a crucial match with his costumes and other fun activities. Eventually, the boxer went on to win a championship against a tough opponent.

• Life is incomplete without friends. I envy this gang of friends! They are with each other always through the thick and thin and look out for one another. There is this episode where all of them hold their hands and hide below bed covers to comfort one another during a harsh thunderstorm. Each one in the gang has a unique personality and they let each one be! How adorably they coexist with one another. It’s hard to find such friends these days.

I am sure I will discover more nuances as I watch more episodes. I am curious to see how this group of friends stick through as they grow up. Like me, do you also watch animations? Which anime or animations do you love the most?

Photo by Rémi Thorel on Unsplash