Smiling at strangers?

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pumpkinbeast

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This is the best spot I could come up with for this thread…

I like to smile at random people, when I’m out shopping, in between classes, etc. It’s amazing what a smile can do, and I love trying to make even just one person’s day brighter. I know I’ve cheered up before because of some small random act of kindness, like a smile.

I’m struggling with whether I should smile at young men my age. I have before, and some have taken it completely the wrong way. x.x I dress modestly and I don’t wear makeup, partly in an attempt to make sure I don’t atract any more attention from guys than is necessary. I have a wonderful boyfriend, and we’re very happy together. I’m at the point where I almost glare down most guys my age. I don’t want to lead any of them on, or encourage any crushes they might have on me… but I want to do it charitably. Is this just silly? Reading it over, it seems weird that I’m placing this much weight on a smile, but it’s one of the first precious memories that I have of my boyfriend; we smiled at each other during the sign of peace during Mass, before we even knew each others’ names.
0.o Help?
 
Smile at people. Then know when to look away and how to look away. And how to stop looking.

You seem really nice, but dont get into trouble by giving anyone the lame excuse to blame you for their stupidity.

Hang in there and smile a lot.🙂
 
pumpkinbeast said:
This is the best spot I could come up with for this thread…

I like to smile at random people, when I’m out shopping, in between classes, etc. It’s amazing what a smile can do, and I love trying to make even just one person’s day brighter. I know I’ve cheered up before because of some small random act of kindness, like a smile.

I’m struggling with whether I should smile at young men my age. I have before, and some have taken it completely the wrong way. x.x I dress modestly and I don’t wear makeup, partly in an attempt to make sure I don’t atract any more attention from guys than is necessary. I have a wonderful boyfriend, and we’re very happy together. I’m at the point where I almost glare down most guys my age. I don’t want to lead any of them on, or encourage any crushes they might have on me… but I want to do it charitably. Is this just silly? Reading it over, it seems weird that I’m placing this much weight on a smile, but it’s one of the first precious memories that I have of my boyfriend; we smiled at each other during the sign of peace during Mass, before we even knew each others’ names.
0.o Help?
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Most well-adjusted young men can tell the difference between a friendly, sisterly smile, and a come-on. As long as you don’t encourage him further, don’t worry about it. If someone gets the wrong idea, treat it like you would any other unwanted advances.

When I open the door for a lady or help her pick up something heavy, the best reward I can get is a gracious smile and a “thank you.” It literally makes my day to see that well-bred ladies are not extinct. Don’t ever let the churlishness or potential immaturity of others keep you from smiling. 🙂
 
“I dress modestly and I don’t wear makeup, partly in an attempt to make sure I don’t atract any more attention from guys than is necessary. I have a wonderful boyfriend, and we’re very happy together. I’m at the point where I almost glare down most guys my age. I don’t want to lead any of them on, or encourage any crushes they might have on me… but I want to do it charitably.”

So, you don’t pretty yourself up because you have a wonderful boyfriend and don’t want to attract the attention of other boys. Just curious…what would you do if your relationship ended tomorrow? What else would change and why? 👍
 
Damascus said:
Smile at people. Then know when to look away and how to look away. And how to stop looking.

You seem really nice, but dont get into trouble by giving anyone the lame excuse to blame you for their stupidity.

Hang in there and smile a lot.🙂
Click to expand...
Good advice.
There are three groups of people that I normally see and would like to smile at them:
  1. cashiers at grocery stores - they work all day long, and a smile can really make their day shorter.
  2. people at work
  3. people at church
…other people - I have to watch out :D; there are so many weird ones nowadays.
 
PauloFreire2 said:
“I dress modestly and I don’t wear makeup, partly in an attempt to make sure I don’t atract any more attention from guys than is necessary. I have a wonderful boyfriend, and we’re very happy together. I’m at the point where I almost glare down most guys my age. I don’t want to lead any of them on, or encourage any crushes they might have on me… but I want to do it charitably.”

So, you don’t pretty yourself up because you have a wonderful boyfriend and don’t want to attract the attention of other boys. Just curious…what would you do if your relationship ended tomorrow? What else would change and why? 👍
Click to expand...
Probably nothing. If found him without prettying myself up, it goes to show you don’t need that sort of thing to attract guys. I didn’t believe him when he first said I was beautiful; he asked some other guys who knew me, who had been to WYD in Koln with me, when I had irregular showers and definately wasn’t looking my best, and they agreed with him. ^^;; Some women like to use makeup, etc, for reasons that are fine, same as I like to wear jewelry, but some have less than stellar reasons… The kind of attention I would attract with immodest dress, at least, is NOT the kind I would ever want, boyfriend or not.
Anyways, something would have to go really, drasticly wrong for our relationship to end. ^^
 
OP Keep smiling! I love to smile at people and I even speak pleasantly to strangers on occasion. Of course, I’m in Texas where most people speak, make eye contact, nod the head, hold doors and observe other small courtesies regularly. The rare rude guy has not been looking at my smile anyway, so I would not let him stop me from being pleasant to others.

Your comment about being found attractive when you felt you were not looking your best brought a smile to my face. My boyfriend in college once gently chastised me for fretting over my appearance on what I thought was a bad hair day. I had on no make up and my naturally curly hair reminded me of a bad clown wig. My sweetie just smiled and said he liked my hair “natural” like it was the first time that he ever saw me. He also said that I didn’t need make up to make me beautiful. (Aaah, warm and squishy feelings!)
 
You remind me of a dear Catholic girl friend of mine (especially with those anime faces and the Mother Theresa quote in your sig). You’re adorable. 🙂

Smile-on! You and your boy are in my prayers.

love,
tony
 
Keep smiling. Nothing wrong with a smile and eye contact to acknowledge anothe person.

Of course, I live in small town Iowa. One is expected to smile and say hi to everyone you come in contact with as you walk down the street. You need to wave to everyone you pass as you drive down the street, too. Your’e being “stuck up” if you neglect the wave.
 
I too tend to smile at strangers, be pleasant and such. (I also think it’s a good idea to make eye contact if nothing else than for safety reasons)

I’ll never forget the smile I received back from a man who appeared to be homeless - I swear he must not have had much human contact as I’m sure most people today avoid them like the plague. It makes my heart ache remembering it, I could tell he was truly touched, bless his heart.
 
wow, a smiling catholic… keep up the good work, lol. If you smile at everyone then maybe they realize it’s just part of your nature. Don’t change yourself. Although perhaps, don’t hold the gaze too long. But keep the smile.
 
When people smile I always wonder what they’re up to. Surely it must be no good! 😛
 
The_Curt_Jester said:
When people smile I always wonder what they’re up to. Surely it must be no good! 😛
Click to expand...
Perhaps it’s who you hang around with, or where you hang out? Maybe there’s some weird people there? You should live in Canada: we smile at strangers all the time.😃
 
=pumpkinbeast;1746718]This is the best spot I could come up with for this thread…
Click to expand...
I like to smile at random people, when I’m out shopping, in between classes, etc. It’s amazing what a smile can do, and I love trying to make even just one person’s day brighter. I know I’ve cheered up before because of some small random act of kindness, like a smile.
Click to expand...
I’m struggling with whether I should smile at young men my age. I have before, and some have taken it completely the wrong way. x.x I dress modestly and I don’t wear makeup, partly in an attempt to make sure I don’t atract any more attention from guys than is necessary. I have a wonderful boyfriend, and we’re very happy together. I’m at the point where I almost glare down most guys my age. I don’t want to lead any of them on, or encourage any crushes they might have on me… but I want to do it charitably. Is this just silly? Reading it over, it seems weird that I’m placing this much weight on a smile, but it’s one of the first precious memories that I have of my boyfriend; we smiled at each other during the sign of peace during Mass, before we even knew each others’ names.
0.o Help?
Click to expand...
Allow me to share my gerat granddaddy’s advice:

“When we don’t “look for trouble” we are less likely to find it.”😃

PRUDENCE: “the ability to do the right thing at the right time” is a VIRTUE!

PRAY about it and pray FO IT:thumbsup:

Your doing good; but do so PRUDENTLY:D
 
I have always been a smiler and have never had any problems. Smile with a good morning or afternoon greeting.
 
The_Curt_Jester said:
When people smile I always wonder what they’re up to. Surely it must be no good! 😛
Click to expand...
Okay.

What if they give you the evil eye instead? 🙂

There I did it. I gave you the smiley face and I assure you that I have no evil plans against you.
 
Maybe smile at people, in conversation with God - or perhaps as a result of conversation with God, without “waiting around” for a reaction, not letting your eyes dwell around for the reaction you get…then you have a better sense for the purity of your intention…are you doing it to spread God’s joy to all the world, or for some other reason. And this "not waiting around for a reaction may discourage any undesired or unintentional returned advances.

Love the idea.
 
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