Laughter is one weird evolutionary quirk.
Thought you were going to die and then didn’t? Shake uncontrollably and make weird panting sounds.
It doesn’t seem like there would be much use for that on the ancient savannah. Yet, of all the weird things babies do, smiling is one of the first.
Maybe it’s because they see so many faces light up when they come into view.
Maybe it’s just a natural part of our trauma response, the last few sparks flashing down the wiring as our flight-or-fight system switches off its pre-flight checks: relax, you don’t have to run.
Whatever it is, we learn it early because we need it.
We can meet anything in the world with a smile, and when we do, it only ever makes things better.
Smile first. Smile last. Smile because it’s better than crying.
Smile because that’s the way things go.
Smile as often as you can, even if it’s only a grimace.