I love to smile.

In the brief but radiant words of Inge de Bruijn, the Olympic champion, we encounter a truth so simple that it glows with eternal power: “I love to smile.” To the hurried ear, this may sound like a fleeting remark, light and without weight. But to those who listen with the heart, it is a revelation of character and a window into the soul. For here speaks a woman who, after enduring the rigors of competition and the loneliness of training, yet chooses joy as her crown.

The act of the smile is not trivial, nor is it weak. It is the victory of the spirit over hardship, the radiance of the inner flame shining outward. Inge de Bruijn, who bore the burdens of discipline and the sharp judgment of the world of sports, still declared her love for smiling. This tells us that joy, unlike medals or titles, is not earned once and left behind—it is a choice, renewed each day, even in the face of struggle. Her words are a reminder that true champions are not only those who touch the finish line first, but those who carry light in their hearts along the way.

The ancients knew this truth. In Rome, Marcus Aurelius wrote in his meditations that “very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself.” The smile is that little thing, a gesture so small yet so immense in its effect. It is both gift and shield: a gift, because it lifts the weary hearts of others; a shield, because it guards the soul against despair. To say “I love to smile” is to confess that one loves not only joy but the sharing of it—that one delights in giving strength to others by the simplest act of showing light upon the face.

History gives us countless witnesses to this power. Think of Nelson Mandela, who after twenty-seven years of imprisonment, emerged not bitter but smiling. His smile became the sign of forgiveness and resilience, a message that peace could triumph over vengeance. In that moment, the world saw that a smile could be more powerful than a weapon, more persuasive than armies, more enduring than hatred. Like Inge de Bruijn, Mandela loved to smile, and in that love he gave courage to nations.

The lesson for us is clear: do not underestimate the power of the smile. It is not merely an accident of the lips but a decision of the soul. To smile is to resist despair, to proclaim that goodness still lives, and to invite others into fellowship. In daily life, where burdens press and tempers fray, a single smile may ease a conflict, soften a hardened heart, or give comfort to one who stands at the edge of breaking.

Therefore, practice this wisdom: when you rise in the morning, choose to carry a smile into the world. When you meet the stranger, greet them with it. When trials weigh upon you, let your smile defy them. And when victories come, let your smile magnify their glory, that others may share in your joy. To love to smile, as Inge de Bruijn declared, is to love life itself, and to keep alive the flame that no darkness can extinguish.

So, children of the present age, learn this: medals rust, records fade, but the memory of a true smile endures forever in the hearts of those who receive it. Let your face be not a mask of indifference, but a beacon of light. Love to smile—not only for yourself, but for the world. For in each smile lies a seed of peace, and from peace grows the strength to endure all storms.