A smile is an arrow straight to the heart. It’s a window opened into a soul. It is a strong display of weakness, a guard lowered, a step into the fire.

Is that why smiles are so hard to come by, why an unexpected smile pours sunshine into a rainy day?

Must we always be knights on a crusade? The stronger our defenses, the fewer smiles we can afford to give or receive.

But why would a knight ever take off his armor, or lower his guard? I can see only one reason. To experience weakness. Hence to be weak on the outside is to be strong inside.

… So I’m in pre-production of a button that will read:

“I’m about to smile, will you beat me to it?”