I am living my life one day at a time. Some days are heavy, some days are lighter, but most days feel like I am just trying to survive. I wake up with the weight of thoughts I can’t always explain. I feel lost most of the time, searching for a path that seems invisible. I am surrounded by people, yet I often feel alone. I can be in a group, but still remain a solo traveller.

And yet, in the middle of all this, I remind myself—maybe I just need to smile.

I don’t mean the forced smile we wear for others, but the tiny curve of the lips that sometimes fools the brain into believing things are okay, even if they are not. Science tells us that smiling can release chemicals in our body that make us feel a little lighter. Maybe not healed, maybe not fully happy, but at least lighter. And sometimes, lighter is enough to get through the day.

I know a cheerful heart is said to be good medicine. But here’s the real question—how long can I keep my heart cheerful when inside it feels cracked? The truth is, I can’t always. Nobody can. Happiness is not a constant state; it is a moment, a feeling that comes and goes. And that’s okay.

What we can do, however, is find small ways to keep going. A good cup of tea, a walk in the park, listening to a song that holds your heart together for a few minutes, or even talking to a friend who understands without judgment. These are little anchors. They don’t erase the storm, but they stop you from drifting away completely.

So maybe the smile is not about denying your pain. Maybe it’s about giving yourself permission to breathe through it. Maybe it’s about saying to yourself, “I will not let this day break me entirely. I will keep a little window open for light.”

Life is not always about being happy. Sometimes, it’s just about not giving up. It’s about choosing to stand, even when your knees are weak. It’s about remembering that while you feel lost, you are still moving forward, one day at a time.

So, maybe you just need to smile—not because everything is fine, but because you are still here, still fighting, still searching. And that, in itself, is something to be proud of.