I guess it happens as a result of my whole being happy thing that sometimes my face just breaks into a huge grin at weird times.
I very often get random people telling me to smile or sarcastically saying, you look happy (get it? because I actually look sad). This is because the shape my face takes when I’m not talking or laughing does make me look pretty miserable and kind of mean. I call it my bitchface. It’s particularly bad, because I don’t talk all that much, and people look way happier and, you know, alive when they’re talking (I think I learned this from ze frank).
Another thing you should know about me is that I make very strange faces. You can often read what I’m thinking right from my face. When I was younger, my parents would actually tell me to stop making such strange faces. I remember this time in elementary school when I was waiting in line after recess to get a drink of water and my teacher asked me why I was making weird faces. Yeah, it’s embarrassing, and I’d like to think I no longer do it, but I think it’s just that it would be strange for people to point it out now that I’m an adult.
Let me put the pieces together for you. Normally I’ve got the bitchface going on, which is a sharp contrast to the sudden grin that appears on my face because (a) I’m happy and (b) I clearly can’t control my facial expressions.
And, it is true that I only wrote this post because I was listening to the song “Tracks of My Tears” by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, and I think the phrase you’ll see my smile looks out of place is genius. The whole song is genius. Give it a listen.

{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
I have a problem with not smiling enough, I think, even though I’m happy … And I hate that awkward moment when you laugh at something that is funny, and then you’re done laughing, but the other person is still laughing. I mean, what do you do?
It’s funny how people will just assume that every face you “make” is somehow planned, and that you can’t just have a standard facial expression. I get a lot of that “why don’t you look more happy” stuff, and it drives me crazy. Why can’t we just be and look natural without having to think about it?
I know that makes me sound oh-so-hippieish but… it’s true!
I have a face that mimics any emotion I’m feeling. My friends constantly make fun of me for my “weird expressions.” I hate it because I can never hide my true feelings, and the world knows exactly what I’m thinking. I totally get it.
After being a waitress for three years, I’ve learned to have a perma-grin on my face!
Sometimes, I’ll read/see something funny and smile and then keep smiling as I keep walking/driving or whatever. Then people think I’m smiling at them. Haha. Not that it’s a bad thing, smiling is good.
Also, I get a really retarded look on my face (like right now) when I’m just reading or doing homework or something.
What matters most is if your heart is smiling. =)
Ze Frank! His was the first website that I ever remember visiting. Back in the ’90s when all he had was the dancing clip and facts and stuff about his cat. Hehehe
a lot of times i notice that i’m furrowing my brow and pursing my lips, like i’m really concentrating on something. so i probably look like a bitch.
I have the same problem. Often times, people will ask me what’s wrong, and if surrounding friends hear it, they’ll say, “Oh, don’t worry. It’s just her face.” And expression wise…it’s hard to hold back! I share your pain, haha.
That song is so good!
hahah I have the same problem! I have my bitchface on 99% of the time and it scares people. I just have nothing to smile about at work haha (when you’re getting yelled at half the day there’s not much to smile about). My coworkers often comment how different I am outside of work. Then again, I think my bitchface is also my default face.
I’ve been told my whole life that my face is very expressive. I used to be paranoid that people would think I didn’t like them or something, when my face might really just be reflecting my thoughts about something I read earlier in the day, or something simple like that.
If you’re happy, the face you’re ‘wearing’ doesn’t matter so much!
Yay for smiles :)
Is it sad that I associate that song more with Adam Lambert on American Idol than I do the original singers? Probably.
PS I always get the “what the hell is wrong with you?” question when I’m concentrating or just not paying attention. Lately it’s been the “are you alright?” question over my scrunchy face because I need glasses. Haha.
I hate smiling. I’m always happy, so i tend to smile often, but in photos, my face looks soooo chubby when I’m cheesin’. Thus, I make silly faces ALL THE TIME. Works better, if you ask me.
I know I’m almost a week late to this post. But I love that song.
My face breaks into uncontrollable smiles after I’ve been angry or hurt for a while. I just can’t help it.