There’s something about the early morning light in the forest surrounding Angkor Wat that makes everything feel softer.
The air was still cool when Boris decided it was time.
He had been clinging quietly to a low branch, watching the older monkeys leap confidently from tree to tree. His tiny fingers flexed around the bark as if he were testing the world itself. Then, without warning, he bounced forward — not gracefully, not perfectly — but with absolute determination.
That’s Boris.
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If you’ve ever watched a toddler prepare to take their first steps, you know the look. A mix of confidence and uncertainty. That’s what filled Boris’ wide eyes as he launched into action. He stumbled halfway down the branch, paused, glanced at his mother for reassurance, and then continued as if nothing had happened.
No fear. Just curiosity.
The forest around Angkor Wat is alive with stories — ancient stones wrapped in roots, birds echoing through tall trees, and families of monkeys navigating their daily routines. But on this particular morning, all eyes were on one tiny adventurer.
Boris wasn’t just playing. He was practicing life.
He tugged on leaves twice his size. He chased his own tail in circles. He pounced on a twig as though it were the greatest discovery of his short existence. Each movement carried that unmistakable spark of childhood — the kind Americans recognize in their own backyards, playgrounds, and family parks.
Watching him felt familiar.
It reminded me of summers at local parks back home — children racing barefoot across grass, testing independence in small but meaningful ways. That universal energy lives in Boris. The desire to explore. The readiness to try.
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At one point, he paused and looked straight toward us, chest puffed slightly, as if to say, “Did you see that?”
And we did.
What makes Boris special isn’t just his playful spirit. It’s the quiet courage in his small attempts. No spotlight. No performance. Just growth happening naturally in the forest.
As the sun climbed higher, Boris eventually curled back beside his mother, still alert, still watching, clearly planning his next move.
Ready for action.
And in that peaceful stretch of forest near Angkor Wat, it felt like the simplest reminder: joy doesn’t need an audience. It just needs space to grow.
