Quite a few of my friends will complain about how intimidating or angry their face looks naturally as it deters others from interacting with them. I, however, have the opposite problem: Resting Nice Face. When you have Resting Nice Face (RNF) you notice that the world treats you differently. There are a few downsides to having RNF, like being approached by people who make you uneasy or constantly being expected to be in a cheery mood. Don't get me wrong, I am very outgoing and love meeting new people, but I feel like my RNF gets me into situations that I wouldn't choose for myself. Nevertheless, because I am easily approachable, I have seen unexpected sides of people that others may have written off and I have been able to gain a different perspective on people.

I complain about my RNF a lot. Sometimes, I just want to be left alone or I am approached by people who make me uncomfortable. Solicitors and activists love me because I am too polite to not acknowledge them and, because of my kind appearance, something as simple as eye contact is taken as an invitation for a discussion. Any of my friends will tell you that one of my talents is getting into awkward situations because I am both friendly and not-in-any-way intimidating. I have felt trapped in conversations more times than I can count. Because of my Resting Nice Face, I have developed a weariness of others because I have been approached by some very... interesting people and, while I wish that I could trust everyone, I have learned to rely on my instinct when it comes to exiting a situation with someone. Most of the time, though, it's just awkward. Whether it's because I'm caught off-guard or don't feel like talking or am busy, being approached constantly is bound to create some weird situations. It is also hard to be taken seriously at times. This might have something to do with my personality as well, but when you have a kind-natured baby-face, it often feels like you have to put in more work to gain credibility. Yet, I don't mind my Resting Nice Face as much as I normally claim to.

First off, I feel that sometimes it is easier for me to connect with kids when I first meet them because I naturally look friendly and they feel more comfortable around me. I want to work with kids one day so this is a bonus that I hope will be beneficial for me later in my career. Because I natually look trustworthy, kids are not the only people that feel safe opening up to me. I treasure the moments when a friend or a person has felt secure enough around me to relate personal details about themselves to me. Also, I have gotten the opportunity to meet a lot of new people who I would not have initiated a conversation with otherwise. I have been able to hear people's stories from all walks of life and I have learned that most of the time, people just need someone who will listen to them. I have learned how something as small as a smile or friendly nod can make someone's day a little better. I have learned that I can judge others too quickly, whether out of fear or prejudice. In essence, I have learned that being cold and unwelcoming is overrated because there are so many doors open to you when others naturally trust you. So, I will gladly accept my Resting Nice Face (with some discretion, of course) as it allows me to experience more of the vastly different perspectives to be had in this world.