It's true that a smile can take years off a person - not that

The words of Elvis Mitchell, though spoken with a touch of wit, conceal a truth as ancient as the dawn: “It’s true that a smile can take years off a person – not that such a thing matters in Yoko Ono’s case.” At first glance, the saying may seem like a playful remark about age and beauty, but if one looks deeper, it speaks to the mysterious power of the smile, the timelessness of the spirit, and the way true presence transcends the passage of years.

A smile is more than a curve of the lips; it is the shining forth of the soul. When a person smiles, the heart itself seems to step forward, softening wrinkles, brightening eyes, and lifting the heaviness of time. It has always been said that joy is the greatest elixir of youth, and in these words we hear an echo of that truth. Yet Mitchell, in mentioning Yoko Ono, reminds us that for some, youth is not measured in outward appearance, but in the endurance of their influence, their creativity, and their fire.

The origin of this idea stretches back through history. The ancients often spoke of vitality not in terms of years, but in terms of spirit. Consider the philosopher Socrates, whose face was often mocked as unattractive, yet when he spoke with passion, when he smiled in discourse, he seemed to glow with an energy that made age irrelevant. Or think of Maya Angelou, whose smile in her later years radiated such power that those who saw it forgot her age and remembered only her wisdom and warmth. Thus the saying is not about Yoko Ono’s years, but about the fact that her spirit and presence transcend them altogether.

The deeper wisdom here is that the smile diminishes the weight of time. While age touches the body, joy keeps the spirit ageless. This is why leaders, saints, and artists who carry joy within them seem timeless—because their radiance makes the years seem light. And for Yoko Ono, as Mitchell points out, such tricks of time hardly matter, for she is remembered not merely for her appearance, but for her voice, her art, and her indomitable presence in the story of her age.

There is also in this quote a playful reminder that beauty is more than skin deep. It is not the absence of years but the presence of joy, wisdom, and authenticity that makes a person vibrant. The smile reveals these things more clearly than any cosmetic or adornment. It is the outward sign of an inward fire, a signal to the world that life, though fleeting, is still worthy of delight.

The lesson, then, is this: guard not your years so jealously, but guard your spirit. Do not chase youth where it cannot be found—in vanity or denial of time—but cultivate it where it always resides—in laughter, gratitude, and the courage to keep smiling even when life is heavy. For a smile is not only an expression; it is resistance against despair, and it can make the soul shine brighter than any illusion of eternal youth.

Therefore, let us act with intention. Let us smile often, not to appear younger, but to live fuller. Let us remember that age cannot steal joy unless we surrender it. And let us carry this wisdom into our lives: a smile can take years off a person, but even more importantly, it can reveal the timelessness of the soul. May we, like Yoko Ono, live in such a way that the years matter less than the radiance we bring to the world.

Thus, the teaching endures: though time marches on, the one who smiles walks in defiance of its weight, reminding all who see that the spirit is eternal, and the light of joy can never grow old.