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Resting Miserable Face

(81 Posts)
Havemercy Mon 16-May-22 14:05:01

It's happened again! I was at a social event at the weekend where I didn't know many people but feeling relaxed and cheerful - looking forward to meeting new people etc. Someone then said to me - "are you ok - you look unhappy?" This has been said to me many times over the years - I would say 'resting b****h face is my expression but what can I do about it and has anyone else suffered from this? I think I am a cheerful friendly person but evidently don't look it. I know that this is a minor thing in the great scheme of things. Any helpful hints appreciated. It's not an age thing- used to get accused of having a sour expression when a young woman az well.

Rosieroe Mon 16-May-22 14:48:29

Oh me too! Even when I was young. I remember a work colleague telling me she was really worried how we would get along as I looked so dour when she first saw me. Fortunately she only told me that when she realised I was actually good craic.

AreWeThereYet Mon 16-May-22 15:32:15

Me too. Especially when I'm concentrating on something. Apparently I look quite cross. I am quite a quiet person, not very talkative, so I suppose that doesn't help, but I'm also a very happy, friendly person.

Juno56 Mon 16-May-22 15:35:13

Me too! My mouth naturally turns down so unless I am actively smiling I can look very serious and yes b***h faced. If I had a pound for every time someone has said: "cheer up it may never happen" I would be an extremely rich woman.

Kate1949 Mon 16-May-22 15:35:46

Someone said to me recently 'You always look scared.' That's because I mostly am!

HowVeryDareYou Mon 16-May-22 15:43:00

I'm the same. I had my marionette lines "done" a few years ago, at an expensive clinic in town - £700 over 2 seeions, 2 weeks apart. I was really happy with the result, and it lasted for about 1 1/2 years. I had the fillers again last November, at a local chemist's (the man had certificates on the wall) and paid £200. He'd injected too much stuff at once, and within a month, white scars started to appear, like stretch marks. I got a refund, and my marionette lines are gone, but I've been left with these scars instead, which I have to try to cover with make-up (not very successfully)

Doodledog Mon 16-May-22 16:10:55

Why do people think that women should constantly be beaming from ear to ear? We are not supposed to be decorative objects, are we? Also, what gives people the idea that they have a right to comment on someone else's appearance? It's so rude.

I have wondered about getting my marionette lines done too, but I'm scared that I'd go to someone who made a mess of things.

MerylStreep Mon 16-May-22 16:15:44

Kate1949
My daughter claims I have just the opposite. She says it’s a dont even think about it face ?

Grammaretto Mon 16-May-22 16:23:31

I agree Doodledog how dare people comment like that.
Is it a real thing that upsets you?
I found it easy to look unwell as a child, if I wanted the day off. I was very pale faced which helped my cause
Aren't most people's faces in repose rather sombte?
An artist who drew portraits of my children, explained why they aren't smiling. Only photographs , a snapshot in time captures a smile. If you sit for an artist, you cannot keep a smile on your face.
Save your happy smiles for real reasons. Don't be pressured into keeping up a fake one

Audi10 Mon 16-May-22 16:24:59

It’s like when you hear the phrase cheer up it may never happen such a stupid saying! I remember quite clearly a few years ago a woman staff member said it to a customer who had walked by her! She turned and faced her and said it already has I’ve just lost my husband!

Grandma70s Mon 16-May-22 16:28:01

My mother used to comment on my ‘stage smile’. She could tell if it wasn’t genuine. Now I don’t bother, so I probably do look miserable.

TerriT Mon 16-May-22 16:28:45

Oh how well I know the feeling! People assume I am a miserable so and so because of my miserable looking face. My husband has such a cheery face and everyone is drawn to him which is a laugh because I’d help anybody and he definitely wouldn’t! No justice……

TerriT Mon 16-May-22 16:31:17

I have an idea. I’ll find some badge manufacturer and have some big yellow badges made with I’m a very cheerful person written on them! We could start a club!

crazyH Mon 16-May-22 16:35:52

About 10 years ago, yes about 10 years ago, I was sitting next to a little boy and my GC’s school concert. He turned to me, and asked “why are you so sad?”. Even my GC have asked me that. I took them to MacDs and while at the table, my sweet little GD asked me “why are you so sad Nan?” - it must be my deep marionette lines? Might consider fillers…

varian Mon 16-May-22 16:54:13

I am also miserable looking although I am a happy and generally cheerful person. I admit I sometimes get cross about politics and a few other things and when I do I probably look cross but it seems that the rest of the time, unless I am falling about laughing, I must look miserable.

Even as a child I'd be sitting quietly in the tram on my way to school to be told by an adult "Cheer up hen, it'll maybe no happen" I often got comments like that.

Perhaps it is because I am so miserable looking that I have always been a bit suspicious of folk who seem to smile all the time. I think it exudes insincerity and I tend to think of these far too smiley folk as putting on an act, although I must admit I have got used to Professor Brian Cox and think he is absolutely genuine. I did once hear him say in an interview that he got a lot of criticism for smiling too much, so I'm sure he just can't help it, just like I can't help looking miserable, even when I'm not.

BeEmerald Mon 16-May-22 17:10:49

My son says I am constantly frowning but my eyesight isn’t as good as it was so I tend to peer at things ! That’s my excuse any way for the tram lines between my eyebrows !

Germanshepherdsmum Mon 16-May-22 17:37:45

I used to be told I looked either miserable or cross and so much better when I smiled. I know I did. Retirement and the consequent disappearance of so much stress has really changed that. And I have found that wearing a nice (not dark) red lipstick makes me look so much more cheerful.

Juliet27 Mon 16-May-22 17:44:42

Oh yes, I definitely have a miserable relaxed face. I once passed a homeless man who said ‘cheer up love, it might never happen’

Ladyleftfieldlover Mon 16-May-22 17:52:27

I still have the report written by the Primary School headmaster when I was 7!
‘I never see Ladyleftfield smiling in the playground. Surely life can’t be that serious for a seven year old.’

SuzieHi Mon 16-May-22 18:11:55

I’m the opposite apparently! My relaxed face must be happy not sad. Strangers smile back at me all the time and friends always comment that I have a friendly face. I sometimes tell hubby off for his cross or worried face. He looks so much better when he’s happy or smiling. Think I developed it when a teacher in a secondary school- part of the ‘I’m in charge/ but friendly’ tactic. Teachers need to develop great acting skills to be effective!

mokryna Mon 16-May-22 18:26:49

My resting face looks miserable and I can’t do a good smile for a photo because my teeth are so short, photographers even agree.
My hairdresser’s resting face always looks as if he is smiling, his mouth really goes up at the corners. Could be at a disadvantage I suppose in certain circumstances.

Kate1949 Mon 16-May-22 18:31:13

Meryl grin My daughter said to me recently 'You don't look very happy.' I said I was OK. She said 'Tell your face'.

Blossoming Mon 16-May-22 19:05:59

Why are people so rude?

Havemercy Mon 16-May-22 19:26:40

Thank you everyone for your advice/comments. It's a comfort to know other people suffer these comments. I suppose the thing is never to judge someone by their expression!

nadateturbe Mon 16-May-22 19:31:21

My husband has a miserable expression and it's difficult to tell if he's happy. It really annoys him if people comment, because he can't help it.
I have a sombre face. I have friends who always look like they are smiling and cheerful. I'd love to be like that. But we can't really change our natural expression.
i often wonder how presenters like Lorraine Kelly manage to smile all through their programme.