People want to start their day off with a smile or, better yet, a

George Takei, with the wit of a sage clothed in the voice of a storyteller, proclaimed: “People want to start their day off with a smile or, better yet, a guffaw.” In these words, he distills a truth as old as humanity itself—that the dawn of each day sets the tone for all the hours that follow. A smile at sunrise is like a blessing upon the soul; a guffaw, that deeper eruption of laughter, is like fire poured into the spirit, quickening strength, courage, and resilience for whatever trials the day may bring.

The ancients themselves honored the beginning of the day. They lit fires to greet the rising sun, they sang hymns to usher in the light, they washed themselves with water to cleanse away the heaviness of the night. For they knew that the first act of the day was sacred, shaping the path of all that followed. Takei’s words echo this ancient reverence, teaching us that even in the modern age, the morning must not be wasted. To adorn it with joy, to clothe it in laughter, is to arm oneself with invisible armor.

A story from history makes this truth plain. During the Second World War, even in the darkest days of London’s Blitz, the people gathered in underground shelters not only to endure but to sing, to share jokes, to laugh together. Winston Churchill himself declared that humor was an essential weapon, for it kept despair at bay. A single hearty guffaw shared in the shelters lifted spirits and turned fear into fellowship. Thus, laughter was not trivial—it was survival, proof that the human heart could not be broken by bombs.

So too in Takei’s life, marked by both tragedy and triumph, this wisdom was forged. As a child, he endured the injustice of internment during the war, yet he rose above bitterness and brought joy to millions through his humor, his performances, and his presence. His love of the smile and the guffaw was not born of naivety, but of resilience—the knowledge that laughter is one of humanity’s most enduring shields against sorrow.

The deeper meaning here is that laughter connects us, weaving invisible threads of kinship. A smile shared with a stranger in the morning may soften their burdens for the whole day. A guffaw shared among friends deepens bonds and reminds us that we are not alone. To begin a day with heaviness is to walk into battle unarmed, but to begin with laughter is to carry a sword of light against the shadows.

Practical wisdom flows from this truth: make space for joy at the start of each day. Before you reach for the noise of the world, find something that makes you laugh. Read a story that warms you, share a joke with a loved one, or simply lift your face to the sky and let gratitude shape a smile. In doing so, you set a tone of strength and brightness that will carry through your labor and your trials.

Therefore, O listener, heed this teaching: do not underestimate the power of the smile, and never dismiss the might of the guffaw. They are not small things, but treasures of the spirit, gifts that guard us against despair and guide us toward hope. Let your mornings be marked by joy, and your days will bear the fruit of resilience. For as George Takei wisely reminds us, to laugh at the dawn is to live with courage until the night.