I belong to the early risers clan. A clan where it’s members have a certain unmistakable look. It’s that look that says “I could have slept a little more, but for reasons I don’t feel like talking about, I could not”. It’s a look that speaks loud and often amplifies or exaggerates a certain personality type. As human beings & social animals, we all try to hide the morning look by faking it a little with a smile. I believe even among the “nastiest” of us, there is a quota of “niceness” that we all have and often cash in some of it with that first morning smile.

Some of us are better than others in hiding that morning look with a smile, but the smile however powerful is all too often inadequate to mask the real character and feeling we have first thing in the morning.

Here is what I mean:

For people with a tendency to be less friendly, they have this “don’t even think about it look” with a grudging smile. They look like they are forcing their face to smile, it looks rather painful☹!” On the other end, for those who are hyper friendly, they have that happy almost goofy, boarder line annoying look; “ I am happy no matter what and will make sure you know it. Their smile although real seems too much for most morning people, but I will take it over the grudging smile:)

And then for those who are thinkers, they have this “I am friendly but please don’t bother me as I am trying to solve world problems” look. Their smile looks more like a mechanical facial technique that is well thought out to use minimum energy and to ward off friendly people without offending them. Sort of a technical smile. It falls somewhere between the grudging and the goofy smiles.

Then of course the “important” people look, I am not referring to a level here; otherwise this could be a career opportunities limiting blog, I am referring to people , irrespective of their level, who feel important for whatever reason, real or imagined, they have this important smile, not too strong , not too soft, borderline Royal!

Then there is the rushed smile that comes with that rushed look, it says: I am good, I am friendly but I am rushed and I have my smile on the move for you. Often it demands a continuous look with a turn of the head to perfect the rushed look! It’s quite something and require a certain talent to perfect. But, it has to be in the DNA of people to get it just perfect.

Of course, one can’t ignore the lazy smile that comes with a slow low energy level look, it’s friendly but it’s painful as it demands your full attention. There is no chance for this smile to ever reach the rushed person as it comes at you in a slow motion.

There are so many other smiles. Some smiles light up the room, some motivate, some are simply sweet and others sympathize, and one can’t forget those smiles that throw hearts all over the place – love smiles, and how can you not be totally disarmed by the smile of a child or even a baby, but without a question, smiles make you and those around you feel happier, healthier and definitely adds value to the faces that wear them. There is much scientific research on the value of smiling, here is a link to one: https://blog.bufferapp.com/the-science-of-smiling-a-guide-to-humans-most-powerful-gesture

My hope today is that this blog puts a smile on your face and adds value to it:)