@jmoor783
Before the pandemic, if I had to guess.
I imagine some people are smiling less because masks kind of remove that social pressure, whereas others may be smiling more because they don’t have to worry about people judging their smile. Oh, and there’s a pandemic, so I imagine most people are smiling less.
Used to be “Quality Control and Supervisor” at my shop but when we expanded and because I’m so f#$%ing good at quality (because I give a sh&*), I was forced to give up being supervisor and just be QC. I hate it!!!
@brennyn don’t know if you are kidding or not. This is hard times, even as an introvert I feel it.
For anyone: if things seem bad/hopeless/depressing/whatever, reach out. There are people who care (this site is full of them, but randoms on a website forum aren’t enough), if you don’t think you have any IRL: 1 they are struggling like you but might snap out of missing your “signals” if you come out and say something, 2 even if not, reach out to services in your area:
Suicide prevention: 800-273-8255
United Way (google your local chapter)
(Anyone else have suggestions?)
What is there to smile about? Everything is terrible. What used to be good is now bad. What used to be bad is now good. Evil has defeated good. Things are getting worse every day. I now understand what those Emo kids were feeling.
Kinda hard not to smile when I know I get to hang out with my favorite at the end of each week. Life is hard. It’s busy and chaotic, but there’s a lot of good stuff too.
Less…I miss travel and the cold weather keeping me indoors with mask mandates suck. Hate masks so I go nowhere. In the summer it was more tolerable because I could at least be in the yard or go for it a walk or to the park. Going stir crazy. And honestly, I did NOT mean 24/7/365 when I said “I Do”. Even his breathing and blinking is getting annoying…and all this from a generally super happy, optimistic person. Not depressed by any means, just stir-crazy!!!
Smiling a lot more since about the 3rd week in January. It could be that covid19 vaccines started to be distributed; or that the species crocus and snowdrops started blooming in my yard and the daffodils peeped through the snow/ice; or, maybe something else I can’t quite put my finger on.
@jitc@w3kn
Please be assured that I will be thinking of you and am sorry for your loss. It’s all to easy to look at the daily numbers and forget that those represent parents/spouses/siblings to a lot of folks.
there are families that are grieving and some didn’t get to say a proper farewell.
As an ER nurse I am painfully aware of that. Current regs on admit visits are:
Non-covid: one visitor a day, can’t swap out etc… Have to wear a mask the whole time, must stay in the room. If they leave that’s it for that day.
Covid pts are not allowed visitors (except in end-of-life cases, but even then it is VERY limited).
I have lived my entire life with an undiagnosed executive dysfunction, and I finally started on medication to help, and it hasn’t only improved my ability to get things done, but has made me happier overall.
The isolation of the pandemic has forced me to come to terms with a number of issues that I’ve been ignoring, some for decades. While this has not been especially fun, overall it has been a Good Thing and should become an even better thing over time.
In short, a whole bunch of things are coming together in good ways in my life and the lives of people I care about.
So, while many things suck for many people, and my life isn’t all rainbows and unicorns, many things are more betterer than more worserer. And eventually the pandemic will cease to be a major thing and then I’m hoping that things will have less suckage all around.
A few months before the pandemic started (before it even made news), I made some very big decisions that I strongly believed would really turn my life around. I finally felt like I started to have some hope for the future, since at least a decade, if not more years. But, after the pandemic started and hit its stride, I got laid off. The market’s been brutal since, and I haven’t had a shred of luck yet. I needed that job to see things through, and until the pandemic I had no reason to suspect that I’d suddenly lose it. Furthermore, bad things just keep happening. I feel jinxed.
But, really, I can’t get over how I finally started to have a glimmer of hope for my future only to have it cruelly snatched away. It’s pretty much the opposite now – I cry myself to sleep almost every night.
@RiotDemon Euw, that’s so annoying. Years ago when I was a waitress I accidentally broke a pot of coffee and spilled it down the front of myself. After cleaning up I went to pour fresh coffee for this group of old fart regulars ( they really were PITAs) and one said “You’re not smiling!” I told him why, in no uncertain terms.
More – we have a 10 month old at home. They do all kinds of fun stuff!
@connorbush I have a 5 month old myself and I do find myself smiling more. The 2 1/2 year old still brings more smiles than frowns as well.
Less – fewer teeth. Thanks Meh for all the candy corn a while back.
@phendrick
What, you opted out on all the toothbrushes?
@phendrick but if you wear your
no one will know!!!
More or less compared to when?
@jmoor783
Before the pandemic, if I had to guess.
I imagine some people are smiling less because masks kind of remove that social pressure, whereas others may be smiling more because they don’t have to worry about people judging their smile. Oh, and there’s a pandemic, so I imagine most people are smiling less.
I don’t want the universe to catch me enjoying myself. That’s just asking for trouble!
Used to be “Quality Control and Supervisor” at my shop but when we expanded and because I’m so f#$%ing good at quality (because I give a sh&*), I was forced to give up being supervisor and just be QC. I hate it!!!
@AuntMean67 Slous’s Contention: If you do a job too well, you’ll get stuck with it.
Only like this
/giphy Cheshire cat smile
More smiles. It makes people wonder what you’ve been up to.
More often, just to try and make others feel better about life. I know that sounds campy, but it really does help!
I went out as Mac the other day. Seeing peoples’ days brightened by a big fuzzy wolf (even if they can’t hug me right now) is its own reward.
@PooltoyWolf
that’s really cool. I think most people who saw you would smile at that get-up!
@chienfou Very rarely if ever do people not smile. :3
@chienfou @PooltoyWolf Cool. How do little pigs react?
@chienfou @macromeh Haven’t met any yet.
But, given that I’m full of air, there’d definitely be potential for huffing and puffing!
Less smiles. I miss … people.
@brennyn don’t know if you are kidding or not. This is hard times, even as an introvert I feel it.
For anyone: if things seem bad/hopeless/depressing/whatever, reach out. There are people who care (this site is full of them, but randoms on a website forum aren’t enough), if you don’t think you have any IRL: 1 they are struggling like you but might snap out of missing your “signals” if you come out and say something, 2 even if not, reach out to services in your area:
Suicide prevention: 800-273-8255
United Way (google your local chapter)
(Anyone else have suggestions?)
More. I’m trying to appreciate everything more. Especially all the doggies out there! Also laughing at how awkward they look doing their business.
@Salanth Gave my sister this calendar for Christmas so she can laugh the whole year long.
calendar
Much less. I dont go anywhere or see anyone new.
about the same, but then again, I always have smiled a lot.
What is there to smile about? Everything is terrible. What used to be good is now bad. What used to be bad is now good. Evil has defeated good. Things are getting worse every day. I now understand what those Emo kids were feeling.
@sjk3 careful you are going to get cancelled… But I agree… So speak out in a peaceful way.
More smiles, nobody sees them because of the mask, but since I’m a flower delivery guy, I see the recipient’s smile!
Nobody see me smile, I see nobody smile,
Smiling more because Orange man is OUT!!!
Kinda hard not to smile when I know I get to hang out with my favorite at the end of each week. Life is hard. It’s busy and chaotic, but there’s a lot of good stuff too.
Less but not zero. No human interaction but my cats do funny things sometimes.
Less. I’d feel like a weirdo sitting at my desk at home by myself just smiling away.
There should be an answer option for ‘about the same.’
Or maybe an option for just ‘Yes’ I smile… more or less…
Less…I miss travel and the cold weather keeping me indoors with mask mandates suck. Hate masks so I go nowhere. In the summer it was more tolerable because I could at least be in the yard or go for it a walk or to the park. Going stir crazy. And honestly, I did NOT mean 24/7/365 when I said “I Do”. Even his breathing and blinking is getting annoying…and all this from a generally super happy, optimistic person. Not depressed by any means, just stir-crazy!!!
More, but I can’t say why. In unrelated news, recreational drug use in the US has gone up…
Smiling a lot more since about the 3rd week in January. It could be that covid19 vaccines started to be distributed; or that the species crocus and snowdrops started blooming in my yard and the daffodils peeped through the snow/ice; or, maybe something else I can’t quite put my finger on.
Lost my mom to Covid last week. Hard to smile right now.
@w3kn I’m so sorry for your loss.
@jitc @w3kn
Please be assured that I will be thinking of you and am sorry for your loss. It’s all to easy to look at the daily numbers and forget that those represent parents/spouses/siblings to a lot of folks.
@w3kn
I hope you have deepest sympathy from all of us.
How painful and sad. I’m so sorry your family has this loss.
@w3kn so very sorry
@w3kn So sorry for your loss. I’m sorry you have to go through this
@jitc thank you
@chienfou @jitc thank you. That’s the hardest piece of it - there are families that are grieving and some didn’t get to say a proper farewell.
@f00l thank you
@tinamarie1974 thank you
@togle thank you
@jitc @w3kn
As an ER nurse I am painfully aware of that. Current regs on admit visits are:
Non-covid: one visitor a day, can’t swap out etc… Have to wear a mask the whole time, must stay in the room. If they leave that’s it for that day.
Covid pts are not allowed visitors (except in end-of-life cases, but even then it is VERY limited).
@w3kn You have my deepest sympathy.
@w3kn Very sorry for this terrible loss.
@chienfou @jitc my mom went from talking to my dad on the phone to gone within 2 hours. It happened so fast we didn’t even get a chance to be there.
Covid sucks. But thank you to all the health care workers that are doing their best to help those in need. You all are rock stars.
@Kyeh thank you
@Enigma thank you
@w3kn I’m so sorry.
I have lived my entire life with an undiagnosed executive dysfunction, and I finally started on medication to help, and it hasn’t only improved my ability to get things done, but has made me happier overall.
@jitc sounds like something I need.
More.
The isolation of the pandemic has forced me to come to terms with a number of issues that I’ve been ignoring, some for decades. While this has not been especially fun, overall it has been a Good Thing and should become an even better thing over time.
In short, a whole bunch of things are coming together in good ways in my life and the lives of people I care about.
So, while many things suck for many people, and my life isn’t all rainbows and unicorns, many things are more betterer than more worserer. And eventually the pandemic will cease to be a major thing and then I’m hoping that things will have less suckage all around.
More. I have a covid
He will be two months on the 27th.
@cutiecupid15 mine will be seven months on the 27th. You have my solidarity. My hat is off to you. I just know you’re doing a great job.
100% less.
A few months before the pandemic started (before it even made news), I made some very big decisions that I strongly believed would really turn my life around. I finally felt like I started to have some hope for the future, since at least a decade, if not more years. But, after the pandemic started and hit its stride, I got laid off. The market’s been brutal since, and I haven’t had a shred of luck yet. I needed that job to see things through, and until the pandemic I had no reason to suspect that I’d suddenly lose it. Furthermore, bad things just keep happening. I feel jinxed.
But, really, I can’t get over how I finally started to have a glimmer of hope for my future only to have it cruelly snatched away. It’s pretty much the opposite now – I cry myself to sleep almost every night.
@Grymmette I hope things get better for you.
Less. No need for a fake smile when you wear a mask. I’ve not had a single man tell me to smile in months. So nice.
@RiotDemon Euw, that’s so annoying. Years ago when I was a waitress I accidentally broke a pot of coffee and spilled it down the front of myself. After cleaning up I went to pour fresh coffee for this group of old fart regulars ( they really were PITAs) and one said “You’re not smiling!” I told him why, in no uncertain terms.