Ayaan Diop, a remarkable 6-year-old boy, has been captivating adults with his serene morning routine that involves savoring a cup of lemon and honey tea while engrossed in a chapter book at 6:30 a.m. His tranquil approach to starting the day has gained widespread attention after his mother, Alissa Holder, an author from New York, shared a video of him indulging in this calming ritual on social media. “Ayaan appreciates his moments of solitude and relishes in the tranquility of the morning. He detests feeling rushed,” Holder revealed to TODAY.
When Holder initially posted the video on Instagram, she accompanied it with a caption that playfully questioned her son’s audacity. “At first, I laughed because who does he think he is?” Holder wrote. “But then I realized that I’m glad he had this moment of calm and focus for himself before he starts his day at school.”
Diop intentionally wakes up an hour earlier than his younger siblings to embrace the quietude of the early morning. “I wake him up early, and he utilizes the extra time to engage in a peaceful activity,” Holder added. As parents to a 3-year-old daughter named Alaïa and a 5-month-old son named Asé, Holder and her husband, artist Alpha Diop, keep a “self-care caddy” outside Ayaan’s door, stocked with essentials like body lotion, face oil, and a book.
In the viral video, Diop can be seen engrossed in “Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid” by Jeff Kinney. Holder mentioned that her son has always been compassionate and caring, often entertaining his younger siblings. In addition, he plays the African drums, possesses a love for various sports, and even provides food reviews.
“He’s definitely a well-rounded individual,” Holder proudly concluded. Social media users were left in awe of Diop’s mature disposition, swiftly turning him into a viral sensation. “@only1kescha exclaimed, ‘Whose 55-year-old daddy is trapped in this baby? Love this.'” Another user, @suki_greene, wrote, “This child has a high 700 credit score lol I love the responsibility.” @im_leah.d chimed in, “I love that his collar looks like the six-year-old dressed himself but the old man him needs his coffee and newspaper before work.”
Diop, who appeared on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” in 2019, has become a national treasure. The show featured a video of him reciting positive affirmations on his way to school when he was just three years old, which had gone viral.
According to the New York Post, Diop can be heard saying, “I am smart, I am blessed, I can do anything.” During the segment, Holder revealed that she began teaching her son this empowering affirmation when he was only two years old, aiming to provide him with a positive focal point.
DeGeneres, impressed by Diop’s uplifting mantra, suggested adding “I am adorable” to the mix, to which the enthusiastic young boy responded with an emphatic “Yes!” The Instagram video has now accumulated over 3 million views, and DeGeneres commended Holder, stating that the video embodies what people yearn to see in times of uncertainty.
The timing of the video’s popularity during the pandemic could not have been more fitting. “We want to see happiness, we want to see positivity—and especially, we want to instill these beliefs in our young people,” DeGeneres shared with Diop.