I like to smile a lot and I always try to be happy, joking around

Hear the words of Willian, the footballer whose feet have graced the fields of the world: “I like to smile a lot and I always try to be happy, joking around and stuff.” At first, these words appear light, even casual, but in truth they contain the essence of wisdom. For here is a man who has known pressure, expectation, defeat, and victory on the grandest stages, and yet he declares that the foundation of his spirit is not anxiety, not pride, but joy. He shows us that to walk through the struggles of life with a smile is not folly, but strength of the deepest kind.

The origin of this teaching is the eternal human desire for joy amidst struggle. Since the dawn of time, people have gathered around fire and feast, telling jokes, singing songs, laughing together, even in the shadow of hardship. This laughter was not mere entertainment—it was survival. It was the reminder that the soul is greater than its trials, that a smile can rise even from the ruins of sorrow. Willian’s words echo this ancient inheritance: the act of being happy, of joking and lifting others’ hearts, is an act of resistance against despair.

The ancients themselves gave honor to this truth. The Greeks praised Democritus, the “laughing philosopher,” who declared that cheerfulness was the path to wisdom, that one must face the absurdity of life with laughter, not bitterness. In Rome, even amidst wars and politics, gatherings were filled with jesters and entertainers, for leaders knew that laughter bound the people together and brought relief to weary hearts. Willian, in his own way, walks in this same tradition—proving that in the modern arenas of sport and life, joy is still the noblest companion.

History shows us the same pattern. Think of Nelson Mandela, who after decades in prison did not emerge hardened, but with a radiant smile that inspired a nation. His joy was not naïve; it was forged in suffering, yet it became his greatest weapon. With it, he disarmed bitterness, reconciled enemies, and showed that even in the harshest trials, a spirit that chooses happiness can change the course of history. His smile, like Willian’s, was more than expression—it was a declaration of endurance and hope.

Willian’s words also speak of joking around, of lightness and play. These are not trivial matters. For humor is one of the highest forms of human connection. It breaks down barriers, softens fear, and unites people across divides. A joke, a shared laugh, can dissolve tension where force would fail. To joke kindly, to lift others through laughter, is to practice a form of charity more profound than many realize. It is to say, “I share this moment with you. Let us lighten the burden together.”

The meaning is clear: joy is not merely an emotion, but a practice. To smile, to strive for happiness, to laugh and to joke, is a daily choice. It is not ignorance of life’s trials, but a refusal to let those trials extinguish the light within. It is a way of showing others that hope can be contagious, that one person’s joy can awaken joy in many. This is the true strength hidden in Willian’s seemingly simple words.

Therefore, beloved, let this be your practice: in your struggles, do not forget to smile. In your victories, let your happiness be generous, shared with others. And in the ordinary days, when life feels heavy, do not be afraid to joke, to laugh, to lift the hearts of those around you. For in the end, you will not only endure your journey—you will bless others along the way. And as Willian has taught by his example, to live with a spirit of joy is itself a form of victory that no hardship can overcome.