Saturday, February 11, 2012

How Do You Look?



It's been a hectic couple weeks but one thing kept popping up.   I came across a blog by a woman who said that when she was doing nothing in particular like shopping, her resting or neutral face looked angry or upset and people were always asking her if she was okay.

I couldn't believe the number of people who commented saying they had the same problem.  Then I remembered a tv show I'd seen years ago on the same topic.  The host asked people if they were aware of the type of look that was on their face when they were resting and not thinking about anything in particular.
I mentioned it to my daughter and she said her boyfriend had complained about the same problem.

  Apparently all his life, people have thought he was upset or angry when he wasn't at all.  It was just his facial expression when resting.   He said it often made him seem confrontational and it made strangers  defensive as if waiting for him to explode about something that bothered him.  Over the years, he's become self conscious about it and always wonders what expression is on his face before he goes in to meet someone for the first time.

I hadn't thought about it before, do you know anyone with the problem?












33 comments:

  1. Great topic my friend. I used to have a snobbish face when I am walking until I realized people wears the same expression. I spent hours in front on a mirror just to study the best expression I should have when walking. It paid off. Everyone seems to smile at me when by any chance I looked at them. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. That sounds like my problem. People often think I'm angry, with many being frightened by me. I can make a little kid cry with just an innocent look. Even my last girlfriend said she was terrified of me the first time I ever talked to her. How's that for a first impression? Once people get to know me they find out what a good person I am though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh you poor fellow, thank goodness you know about it.

      Delete
  3. I have never thought of it until you mentioned it!

    Now I will be looking at people's resting faces and wondering what my own is like too!

    Love the owl pics, so cute.

    I think that when I'm shopping I probably have my happy face on!!!

    Wishing you a great Sunday,
    am off now to study the kids faces but at 9am they are all grumpy faced!!!


    x Fiona

    ReplyDelete
  4. oh, your paintings and commentary are priceless!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am surprised at my expressions when caught on a shoot.I have a pretty good smile when around others.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Smiling seems to be the only way to counteract it doesn't it?

      Delete
  6. I can relate to this because when I'm at work I'm constantly hearing "Smile" My response is always I am....on the inside.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Other people were saying it felt so fake to put on a smile when not just reacting to something.

      Delete
  7. How clever, I know my husband tells me I have a frown and look upset a lot, I keep telling him, that's my natural look. I try to remember to keep smiling just slightly which might make him think I'm not angry about something, but I soon forget and the look relaxes and there it is. Like the owl says, this is how I look. LOL

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, you have a lovely smile in your profile photo :O)

      Delete
  8. I think it is silly to wear a smile 24/7. What sane person smiles all the dang time?

    Now to be one of your cool Owls.:)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'm often told by strangers that I have a nice smile and was even given the name of 'sunshine lady' for one job! One elderly gent that I'd never met before once said to me..."never loose that smile". I wasn't even aware that I was smiling at the time, so maybe my relaxed face is smiley :D
    So where did all these frown creases come from??? :?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It must be smiley, I don't know where those creases come from either!

      Delete
  10. Thanks for your note about Tree-following on Loose and Leafy. Do let me know if you have decided to follow a particular tree / group of trees / fallen tree . . . . through the year and I'll add your blog to the list.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, I will, I have a couple that I'd like to but we may be moving...

      Delete
  11. I just ordered the Budget Tote to put some of my yarn in or when I have to sit in a waiting room at the hospital. I take items along to entertain myself and I have a bag now, that one of our daughters made me, she bought the bag then put a photo of myself and the youngest granddaughter on it.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I was just checking out my blog and noticed I posted something about President's day which was suppose to show up next week and it showed up today, I moved it to next week, but your comment then was deleted. I didn't delete it on purpose, apparently if you move a post the comments don't go along. Now when I have to spend time waiting, I will have a new bag. Perhaps I won't scare people off. LOL

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'm so glad you wrote this post, Carole - I thought it was just me! I don't know how many complete strangers have said to me over the years, 'Cheer up - it may never happen' when I was feeling perfectly cheerful but obviously not showing it! I think I've 'improved' though since I've lived in Wales because almost everyone you meet on the way to shops smiles and says 'hello' so I've learnt to anticipate that with a smile of my own.

    Love your owls and your captions - they put a smile on my 'miserable' face :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Judy, Wales sounds like a wonderful place. I don't think you look miserable at all.

      Delete
  14. What a great way to address this problem, which must be more widespread than previously thought! So funny. Love it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was surprised at how widespread it was and I sure think of people differently now.

      Delete
  15. Hi there, love your art! When I was a kid people used to stop me on the street and ask if I was upset about something. I guess I must have looked sad. It doesn't happen anymore so I guess I must look happier these days! Funny I always used to wonder why the heck they thought I was about to cry.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love your art too Crystal, and your blog. I'm so glad we found each other

      Delete
  16. thoughtful post
    yes this happens with many people

    ReplyDelete
  17. Love the Owls!

    I definitely don't like the expressions I sometimes see when I catch myself unawares in a mirror but other people say I am smiley so that's encouraging. Sending lots of smiles on a dull Winter day in England :-) :-)

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.