The inability to do something that we so take for granted, smile, can cause untold problems. This was not something that I had given any thought to and I am willing to bet that none of my readers would have either.
My cousin Shankar knows exactly what would trigger something in me and sent me this story about the smile and how its absence can affect normal life. I wouldn’t like to be in the shoes of someone who cannot smile. Would you?
And before I close with a nice musical touch that I am sure will be appreciated by Shackman, I remember the number of times that I have been told to “Wipe that smile off your face
Which of course leads me to this great all time favourite song the visuals for which are particularly endearing.
I have been told more often that it takes fewer muscles to smile than frown.
Nice musical choice.
Yes, one of the most oft repeated cliches. And so true too!
I’m a sucker for smiling faces and for smileys, but I know some people who hate them and have criticized me for using them. It takes all kinds….. I don’t plan to stop. 🙂
As one of the biggest smilers (from my heart) with one of the biggest smiles possible (and showing in my eyes – so I have been told) I dislike (not hate, far too strong a word) the FREQUENT use of smileys in text. To me that frequent use of smileys signals two things: One – laziness. Why not express what you want to say with words instead of taking a short cut? Two – and it wipes my smile right off my face – that some bloggers and commenters do a backhander (verbally) and then think they can make it “better” by putting a smiley at the end of it: “Ha ha ha, isn’t it all so funny, and I didn’t really mean it.” Bull to that.
U
😀
Nor I, Monk.
nor I.
I laud the effort to provide a means to add symbols of nonverbal language which is such an integral part of communication. Words alone, no matter how well chosen, all too often never quite convey the full message sent and received from the facial expressions that accompany them in face-to-face interaction.
I encountered numerous individuals with smile deficits due to a variety of causes — stroke that might also lead some to have weak, or lop-sided or one-sided smiles, later stages of Parkinson’s, ALS and numerous other neurological diseases or injuries. Providing these individuals therapeutic interventions was just one small aspect of what I did.
Facial expression is a very important component of our non-verbal communication system in conveying and interpreting language.
That is an interesting life that you have led Joared. Yes, facial expression is the most important in using body language to communicate.
What your article describes, and what Joared said, came to my attention only the other day. The idea to not be able to communicate with a smile fills me with horror. And I mean HORROR. I AM my smile. Sounds like an exaggeration but it isn’t. I truly believe that without my ability to smile I’d be nothing. I’d not be me. Still, I suppose there is always touch that conveys how friendly you feel towards others. But whilst it’s possible to briefly smile at a stranger in passing, make that fleeting connection, in absence of which you can hardly walk up to them, shake their hand or touch their arm. They’d cart you off in the white van.
Dear God, leaving aside I don’t believe in you, please don’t strike me with, say, a stroke, rendering me without facial expressions. Though I suppose there are always my eyes to make up for loss.
U
Yes, Ursula the twinkle in your eyes will do the trick if ever it came to pass that you can’t use the rest of your face to smile.
There are also all the other nonverbal language cues — the tone of voice, inflections, not to mention other body language with posture, arms, etc. that influence, too.
What a fascinating article. Thanks for sharing. I would take smile wrinkles over Botox any day.
I don’t think that you will ever need to even consider botox!
didn’t read the entire article link – but I can say I’m not a “smiler” that doesn’t mean I don’t think that something is bad/ugly. I just don’t see the point to be continually smiling…. that’s when I’m out in the public eye.
I can though use it the typing emoji’s easier but often I do not quite understand the type where there 30 facial expressions to choose from
Cathy, you have just made my day. I can’t either!
It used to be the case that shop assistants and the like were expected to keep smiling however they were treated by customers. Thankfully that expectation seems to have lapsed and a poker face is no longer seen as unwelcoming.
Shop Assistants? A rapidly disappearing phenomenon in the days of super markets and check out counters as well as online shopping. It is now the turn of talking on the telephone to anonymous customer service executives who would rather not talk to you.