The Sitting Face

Do you ever have people tell you something that leaves you wondering....hm, why did you just tell me that?

This has happened to me several times in life.

I can't think of exact cases, but there have been several times that several friends of mine have told me, that when they first met me, before they really got to know me, they thought I was going to be rude, or a snob, or any other personality trait you can think of that is none too appealing.

Then they would always follow it up with: "But you weren't!!!!!!"

To which I would politely smile and think "Gee, thanks I feel so much better."

For awhile I was confused as to why people felt this way. Why were they SO convinced I was going to be such a nasty person only to be SO convinced I wasn't after simply meeting me??

I sought the advice of a good fried who explained to me that I had a bad 'sitting face'.

A 'Sitting Face' is a face that is simply just still. Not telling an exaggerated story. Not smiling. Just still.

So apparently if I am just listening to you, or walking down the street, or just in deep thought, I have a pretty crappy looking face.

After my friend told me this I started trying to work hard to maintain a pleasant 'sitting face'.

I would try to just randomly smile while; listening to a story, walking to class, driving down the road, etc etc. But honestly it felt fake and forced, so I quit.

And the bad 'sitting face' reemerged.

People misjudge me all.the.time. There have been times that I have rushed into Church, running late, completely focused on getting in my chair in time for worship when somebody will say:"Wow! What's with the look? What is wrong with you today?

I just want to scream I HAVE A BAD SITTING FACE LEAVE ME ALONE!!!!

It seriously annoys me, which then causes the sitting face to become an 'irritated face'.

In an effort to help me form a more pleasant face, Luke has tried to make me aware of the times when I am making this not-so-pretty-face.

While we were in the airport last month he spotted me making the 'sitting face' and snapped a picture, without me knowing, so that I could see it in full living color.

Here is is:



He then showed me the picture, to which I thought. HOLY COW, my hair looks AWFUL. Clearly my hair does not do well on planes.

After the initial shock of my hair I realized that I do look pretty ticked off in this picture.

But I can assure you I wasn't. I was concentrating on something and thinking through some things in my brain.

I was also watching this cute family across the room trying to figure out who the mom was. They all looked freakishly young.

Upon further investigation of myself and the 'sitting face', I have decided that I was simply born with the 'sitting face'.

Just like my ugly toes, or cat-like eyes it is unavoidable and I am stuck with it.

So, if you ever pass a young woman on the street and you think: "Dang, that girl looks ticked".

Just remember she may have a bad 'sitting face'.

Unless you are irritating her, then it may be her 'irritated face'.