Smiling. It’s like a less obnoxious yawn.
Today, as I walked to the train from my office, I glanced at a woman who smiled when our eyes met. Just a friendly smile. As a natural reaction, I smiled back.
I kept grinning as I continued down the street and I met eyes with another woman and she grinned back.
And then I decided to see if, just by smiling at people, I could get them to smile back. It’s contagious! Sort of like yawning but less obnoxious.
So each time I happened to make eye contact with someone, I grinned. And goddamned if each one didn’t just grin right back. Isn’t that sort of wild?
Dude, you should try it.
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Just a random attorney writing about daily life with Little Filthy, my rotten dog.
June 8th, 2010 at 4:17 pm
*smile*
June 8th, 2010 at 4:17 pm
You don’t seem like the happy-go-lucky-smile-at-everybody type, RE. This post creeps me out a bit.
June 8th, 2010 at 8:14 pm
Awww lookit Random makin’ people happy! Anything for science, right?
June 9th, 2010 at 5:03 am
It’s all good until someone doesn’t smile back. Then you wonder “what the F is wrong with me that they can’t return a simple smile”? Or worse is smiling at someone creepy who instantly thinks you want them.
June 9th, 2010 at 5:27 am
Probably they want you.
June 9th, 2010 at 6:29 am
I love this, RE. I *have* tried it on random occasions (no pun intended); some people smile back, some are just grumpy, miserable so-and-so’s and the scowl on their face never softens. I say a little prayer for them and hope they find something down the road that makes them smile.
June 9th, 2010 at 7:59 am
You know for some reason, I share the same sentiments at CGB. If some guy made eye contact and gave me a big grin I would be totally creeped out. I’m more about the Polite Smiles.
June 9th, 2010 at 8:32 am
What the hell??? When I first saw the picture on your post and started reading, I SO thought you were going to say that the woman who smiled at you looked like that thing on your picture. Because that’s what you do, make fun of people… Where’s RE and what have you done with him?!
PS: I totally smile at people all the time. And it does work.
June 9th, 2010 at 11:01 am
It’s kind of nice if you think about it, right?
June 9th, 2010 at 8:37 pm
@Barb – Darned if that didn’t make me grin.
@CBG – **BIG MOFO GRIN**
@Susan – Shhhhhhh, don’t go spreadin’ that around.
@Roose – you rotten thing! But yeah, the first time someone doesn’t smile back, I’m going to turn all belligerent.
@Phoe – I’m going to be smiling all the time now.
June 9th, 2010 at 8:43 pm
@kissyface – it’s kind of powerful, really. You just grin and people grin. Grinning alone makes me happy. Let’s go on a mission.
@Vinomom *laugh* I didn’t give a BIG ASS GRIN. I just gave a small grin. Though, now, for fun, I sort of want to give a huge ass smile with teeth tomorrow just to see what happens.
@Caperucita – Heeeeyyy!! I try not to be mean spirited when I talk about my observations of people. Usually, they are innocent enough, I think. I just find people sort of fascinating in all capacities.
@CHristine – I think so.
June 10th, 2010 at 6:48 am
RE: I think you should define for us (visually) the difference between a grin and a smile. I understand the comments about the creepy grins (eww) but somehow I doubt yours would qualify. You could take a pic of just your grin and your smile (no other identifiable facial features, as I know you want to remain mysterious). Are you game?
June 10th, 2010 at 5:13 pm
Oh don’t get me wrong, I absolutely enjoy your innocent observations! I must confess I do the same even. Didn’t mean to take a jab at you!
June 12th, 2010 at 6:00 pm
I think it depends on where you live. Here in the Seattle area people will assume you’re high… or retarded…
Then they’ll try to sell you some hemp lotion or get you to sign a petition to put fugly, over priced art in the park.
People here are just weird. I totally dig that.