I try to live my life with happiness and with a smile on my face.

When João Moutinho declared, “I try to live my life with happiness and with a smile on my face. I try to do my best,” he spoke not as a man of fleeting joy, but as one who has discovered the quiet strength of contentment through effort. In his words lies the ancient wisdom that happiness is not a gift bestowed by fortune, but a discipline of the soul—a choice renewed each morning, forged through gratitude, humility, and perseverance. He reminds us that greatness does not always roar; often it smiles. It is the smile of one who has faced adversity, labored earnestly, and still finds reason to rejoice in the doing, not merely in the reward.

Born on the fields of Portugal, Moutinho’s journey through football was not one of blinding fame or reckless glory. Rather, his was a life of steady excellence, of devotion to craft, of loyalty and grace under pressure. To “try to do my best” became not just his motto, but his character. In a world that praises victory above virtue, he chose the nobler path—to measure success not by trophies or praise, but by integrity of effort. His smile, then, is not the shallow grin of ease; it is the hard-earned expression of one who has labored fully, knowing he gave his all.

In ancient times, the philosophers of both East and West taught that the path to happiness lies in right action. The Stoics of Greece, like Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius, spoke of serenity that arises when one fulfills one’s duty with a willing heart. The sages of the East, from Confucius to the Buddha, taught that peace is found in living with harmony and intention. Moutinho’s simple creed echoes their eternal counsel: that happiness is the companion of diligence. To smile even in toil is to understand life’s truest rhythm—to labor without complaint, to act with joy, and to rest with peace.

There is power in this quiet philosophy, and history is filled with its heroes. Think of Mother Teresa, who served the sick and the dying in the streets of Calcutta. She did not seek grandeur; she sought to do her best each day, smiling through exhaustion, carrying love as her banner. When asked how she endured so much suffering, she replied, “We can do no great things—only small things with great love.” Her happiness, like Moutinho’s, was not found in circumstance, but in attitude—a deliberate joy that transcended hardship. So too, every person who has mastered their craft—be it art, science, or sport—has discovered that true fulfillment blooms when one gives fully, expecting nothing but the satisfaction of effort itself.

In a world that rushes after success and applause, Moutinho’s words call us back to simplicity and sincerity. To live with happiness and a smile is not to ignore struggle, but to rise above it—to recognize that the measure of a life is not how much one conquers, but how gracefully one endures. The warrior who smiles before battle, the artist who paints with joy despite hunger, the parent who sacrifices daily for love—all live this same truth: that happiness and effort are two sides of the same coin. To smile while striving is to live nobly, for it means one has learned to find light even in the shadows.

Yet there is humility in his words as well. “I try,” he says—not “I succeed,” but “I try.” It is a confession that perfection is not the goal; sincerity is. To try one’s best is to live with intention, to give each day the honor of one’s full heart. Even the ancients revered this truth. The samurai of Japan believed that mastery was not a destination but a lifelong path—the way of kaizen, continual improvement. In the same way, Moutinho’s teaching reminds us that joy is not the end of effort but its faithful companion. The one who tries, truly tries, already walks the way of peace.

So, my children of the future, remember this: live with happiness, and do your best. Let your smile be your armor against bitterness. Work not for applause, but for the quiet satisfaction of knowing you gave your all. When you fall, rise again; when you are weary, smile still. For in striving with joy, you transform labor into meaning and hardship into growth. The heavens themselves honor the one who does their best with an open heart. Happiness, after all, is not found at the finish line—it is carried within you on every step of the journey.

Thus, as João Moutinho teaches by word and by life: labor earnestly, smile often, and give each day your honest effort. For the one who lives this way, even the smallest victory becomes noble, and even the hardest road becomes blessed.