It’s not that we stop laughing because we’re getting older. It’s that we’re getting older because we stop laughing. I saw something like that on a bumper sticker this morning when I was driving my boys to school. I believe the expression of joy is part of quality aikido training. I don’t mean that we should laugh our way through class—just that we should make space for it when it is appropriate. Smile and radiate your way through training. I promise there will be no loss of integrity if it’s genuine. If it’s there to hide something, though, well then maybe have a look at that. Remember, it’s not endullment. It’s enlightenment. There’s always room to “lighten” up just a bit more.