I am usually just walking or thinking about something, mostly minding my own business, when perfect strangers have come up to me and asked me to smile. This almost always surprises me; it leaves me with a feeling of disbelief that I have an effect on strangers in my vicinity. Is it possible that my inner thoughts are so transparent that they invariably assume an expression on my face.
If you are reading this and you find it "strange", let me humor you with my last encounter of this kind. A few weeks ago I was getting off work and walking to my car. As I sat in and looked up, there was a guy in front of me on the sidewalk extending his fingers on his face in the sign of a 'u' while mouthing the word 'smile'. I sat there staring at his back as he walked by, all the while thinking whether I had imagined this or not. And the only reason I am sure that it was not my imagination is that this has happened at least a half dozen times before.
So at least it is clear that people like other people to smile, or at least show some sign of happiness, as they walk by them. My dad always ends an e-mail or a phone call with me with the words 'Keep Smiling'. They say a smile is contagious. I am sure that is true and that it can have a positive effect on other people. But what is so wrong about not smiling all the time? Am I not being true to all my other feelings by expressing them as well?
I believe it takes a lot of energy to seem happy and upbeat all the time, unmindful of what is really happening inside. But it also has to be emotionally unhealthy to some degree to not seem sad or angry or hurt when you are in fact experiencing those emotions.
So this goes out to the people who despite being strangers have shown concern for my happiness. I value your actions and thank you for making me think about this. I will try to smile as much as I can but please forgive me if sometimes my face does not betray my heart.
