In today’s society, kids develop emotional “poker faces” at a young age. Let me explain. No matter what they're feeling, they etch a smile on their faces and keep going. Of course, every little thing is “end-of-the-world sadness” to a sixth grader.
I remember a specific day I saw a child create his poker face. A little boy lost a toy and was frantically trying to find it in the local grocery store. His mother stood beside him in anger of his outburst. Straight away, the child composed himself and kept walking. Sure he could have thrown a tantrum over his toy, but instead, he put on his poker face.
We all have a poker face, don't we? When we talk to strangers, we put on our poker face. When we watch a sad movie, we put on our poker face. When we meet a potential friend, we put on our poker face. But why are we conditioned to hide away our emotions at such a young age?
I have found that cultural standards dictate not only adult actions but children’s too. Children are always told not to cry, not to complain, and not to get angry. Thus, the poker face is born. Having a “poker-faced” view of the world causes people to hide their emotions, and even lose sight of who they are.
Do yourself a favor a let it loose sometimes. You'll be glad to trade in your poker face for your real face.
With some practice, you can break the habit of having a “good poker face.” Letting go of your poker face might best thing to ever happen to a person. Poker faces hold back even the most joyous person around.
The best moments of my life have been “beyond the poker face.” Going to the homecoming dance for the first time will be a total “beyond my poker face” moment. But on a leap of faith, you just might dance--and I promise you’ll want to lock up your poker face forever.
You might cry at graduations and at sad commercials (sometimes happy ones too), but isn't that what life is about? Time between laughing and crying is just white noise in the end. Performing, playing in the big game, or even taking the SAT’s could be a “beyond the poker face” zone for you. But if you use any ounce of courage you have to break though the poker face, you can accomplish anything.
