Sometime last week I read an article about a woman in the UK who has refused to smile for 40 years so as to not get any wrinkles. And she’s right — her photos from the 80s and her photo today look pretty much the same. Just with a better hairstyle. She does not have any lines on her face.
But you know what? All I could think of when I read the article and saw her photo was ‘How sad’.
I didn’t feel at all envious that she has no lines on her face. All I could think of was that she has had to endure having a non-smiling face. She has spent 40 years of her life not laughing at jokes. She has spent 40 years of her life not smiling when in the company of friends and family. She has spent 40 years not smiling at the antics of cats or dogs. She has spent 40 years not smiling at the happiness evoked by the beauty of nature. Or the kindness of a stranger.
What a sad life it must be.
At 31, I’m starting to get a few more wrinkles on my face. Lines near my eyes. Lines near my mouth. Lines on my forehead.
And you know what? I’m not too fussed about these lines.
The lines near my eyes and mouth only show me that I have laughed a lot. That I’ve been happy several times in my life. The worry lines remind me of hard times and that I’ve overcome them to live my life to the fullest. I don’t have the pressure to not smile. I can smile when I’m in love. I can smile at my cats’ crazy antics. I can laugh out loud at politically incorrect jokes and stand up comedians. I can smile in the presence of nature. I can laugh at my stupidity at times.
The lines on my face. I’m proud of them all.
Life is filled with moments that evoke emotional responses — happiness, sadness, anger, frustration, love, surprise, anxiety, fear. When we feel these, our nonverbal responses are important in how they are processed.
So you know what? If people like Kim Kardashian or Vitoria Beckham or this lady I previously mentioned want to go through their lives not expressing their emotions, then I for one feel sorry for them.
Because they are not experiencing life.
Do you worry about wrinkles? Do you make an effort to not smile so that you can remain wrinkle free?
Do you feel comfortable sharing photos with your wrinkles?
Do share!
***Linking with Alicia for Open Slather***
Until next time,
Cheers!!!
Min@WriteoftheMiddle
16 February 2015 at 7:52 amI couldn’t give a hoot about my wrinkles. I feel sad for those women. Life is too short!! xo
Min@WriteoftheMiddle recently posted…Mindful Monday: Attitudes Wrap Up
Min@WriteoftheMiddle
16 February 2015 at 7:52 amI couldn’t give a hoot about my wrinkles. I feel sad for those women. Life is too short!! xo
Min@WriteoftheMiddle recently posted…Mindful Monday: Attitudes Wrap Up
Jody at Six Little Hearts
16 February 2015 at 8:08 amI am surprised they have any family or friends left to do anything with! How insane! Use it or lose it I say!
Jody at Six Little Hearts recently posted…Cocobella Kids Review
Jody at Six Little Hearts
16 February 2015 at 8:08 amI am surprised they have any family or friends left to do anything with! How insane! Use it or lose it I say!
Jody at Six Little Hearts recently posted…Cocobella Kids Review
nabanita
16 February 2015 at 3:47 pmI feel sad for her you know… I don’t care about wrinkles and all that, never have…I guess it’s more important to live each day that be worried about something which will eventually happen and should happen
nabanita recently posted…One ASUS Zenphone Valentine
nabanita
16 February 2015 at 3:47 pmI feel sad for her you know… I don’t care about wrinkles and all that, never have…I guess it’s more important to live each day that be worried about something which will eventually happen and should happen
nabanita recently posted…One ASUS Zenphone Valentine
Nisha Sanjeev
16 February 2015 at 5:10 pmCrazy…don’t even call her a woman! SAD!
Nisha Sanjeev recently posted…Peception & belief!
Nisha Sanjeev
16 February 2015 at 5:10 pmCrazy…don’t even call her a woman! SAD!
Nisha Sanjeev recently posted…Peception & belief!
Suzy
16 February 2015 at 5:52 pmNever worried about the lines on my face. How sad that some people would go to any lengths to avoid wrinkles and lines.
Suzy recently posted…Five Minute Friday – When
Suzy
16 February 2015 at 5:52 pmNever worried about the lines on my face. How sad that some people would go to any lengths to avoid wrinkles and lines.
Suzy recently posted…Five Minute Friday – When
Shailaja
16 February 2015 at 6:34 pmI have to agree with you. How sad for her! Then you have the other extreme of going for anti-wrinkle creams! Why? I mean, be happy in the here and now. Why is that so hard for people to get? How hollow must their lives be.
Shailaja recently posted…Raising our voices: The right way #1000Speak
Shailaja
16 February 2015 at 6:34 pmI have to agree with you. How sad for her! Then you have the other extreme of going for anti-wrinkle creams! Why? I mean, be happy in the here and now. Why is that so hard for people to get? How hollow must their lives be.
Shailaja recently posted…Raising our voices: The right way #1000Speak
Caroline @ Mamma Raj Says
16 February 2015 at 7:24 pmWrinkles, Sminkles! We all get them….well obviously not all of us but I agree with you who would want to be them!
Caroline @ Mamma Raj Says
16 February 2015 at 7:24 pmWrinkles, Sminkles! We all get them….well obviously not all of us but I agree with you who would want to be them!
Alicia
16 February 2015 at 9:33 pmI am suddenly very proud of the wrinkles on my face. I had the same thought, that she is not really enjoying life. I saw her on the Project, and the videos they showed her to see if they got a reaction were hilarious! She did even crack half a smile.
Alicia recently posted…Flatbread wraps
Alicia
16 February 2015 at 9:33 pmI am suddenly very proud of the wrinkles on my face. I had the same thought, that she is not really enjoying life. I saw her on the Project, and the videos they showed her to see if they got a reaction were hilarious! She did even crack half a smile.
Alicia recently posted…Flatbread wraps
Rajlakshmi
16 February 2015 at 9:56 pmWell you look way younger than your age 🙂
I believe in aging gracefully, with grey hair and wrinkles and wisdom 🙂
Rajlakshmi recently posted…Eternal Girl – Yoga Necklace
Rajlakshmi
16 February 2015 at 9:56 pmWell you look way younger than your age 🙂
I believe in aging gracefully, with grey hair and wrinkles and wisdom 🙂
Rajlakshmi recently posted…Eternal Girl – Yoga Necklace
Anne@gritandgiggles
17 February 2015 at 10:00 amI don’t worry about lines or wrinkles, they show a life lived. I can’t say I really have much in the way of them but have noticed they are starting the appear around my eyes. I would prefer lines from living life than no lines from not. I do need to care more when out in the sun though, hmm.
Anne@gritandgiggles recently posted…Stepping back in time
Anne@gritandgiggles
17 February 2015 at 10:00 amI don’t worry about lines or wrinkles, they show a life lived. I can’t say I really have much in the way of them but have noticed they are starting the appear around my eyes. I would prefer lines from living life than no lines from not. I do need to care more when out in the sun though, hmm.
Anne@gritandgiggles recently posted…Stepping back in time
Emily @ Have A Laugh On Me
17 February 2015 at 10:24 amYou’re such a babe and yes I have HEAPS of wrinkles but smiling and laughing are things that make my soul happy – who cares about lines, they are well earned! x
Emily @ Have A Laugh On Me recently posted…You’ve got it good.
Emily @ Have A Laugh On Me
17 February 2015 at 10:24 amYou’re such a babe and yes I have HEAPS of wrinkles but smiling and laughing are things that make my soul happy – who cares about lines, they are well earned! x
Emily @ Have A Laugh On Me recently posted…You’ve got it good.
elly stornebrink
17 February 2015 at 8:02 pmIt’s silly to avoid life – feeling life – joy even, by not smiling. That’s ludicrous! How can you live, be alive, feel free, feel happy….? She sure is missing out! Keep smiling Sanch wrinkles and all…they’re worth having to show a life well lived! 🙂 <3
elly stornebrink recently posted…NaBloPoMo: Make…a Mistake? Who Me?! 😉
elly stornebrink
17 February 2015 at 8:02 pmIt’s silly to avoid life – feeling life – joy even, by not smiling. That’s ludicrous! How can you live, be alive, feel free, feel happy….? She sure is missing out! Keep smiling Sanch wrinkles and all…they’re worth having to show a life well lived! 🙂 <3
elly stornebrink recently posted…NaBloPoMo: Make…a Mistake? Who Me?! 😉
J.Gi Federizo
17 February 2015 at 8:48 pmI do worry about wrinkles but I understand they are a part of life. I really won’t mind getting laugh wrinkles, at least I laughed. How pathetic that woman seems to me. Vain and pathetic and I’m not even annoyed, but rather sad for her. I fortunately have not much wrinkles yet; I do know they’re bound to appear and I’ll let nature take its course.
J.Gi Federizo recently posted…“SMILES, WINKS AND GOOGLY EYES”
J.Gi Federizo
17 February 2015 at 8:48 pmI do worry about wrinkles but I understand they are a part of life. I really won’t mind getting laugh wrinkles, at least I laughed. How pathetic that woman seems to me. Vain and pathetic and I’m not even annoyed, but rather sad for her. I fortunately have not much wrinkles yet; I do know they’re bound to appear and I’ll let nature take its course.
J.Gi Federizo recently posted…“SMILES, WINKS AND GOOGLY EYES”
Roshan Radhakrishnan
20 February 2015 at 4:45 pmAlways better to have a face with wrinkles that are caused by a life full of laughter… no doubt about that. In some ways, you really need to pity that person for her decision.
Roshan Radhakrishnan recently posted…The World is Not a Bad Place #1000Speak
Roshan Radhakrishnan
20 February 2015 at 4:45 pmAlways better to have a face with wrinkles that are caused by a life full of laughter… no doubt about that. In some ways, you really need to pity that person for her decision.
Roshan Radhakrishnan recently posted…The World is Not a Bad Place #1000Speak