Dear LPG,

I live alone but have come to accept that I am one of those people who does not find that a depressing way to be. I think that my secret for successfully living alone lies in always having something to do.  More than one of those that knows me has mentioned that this leaves me with a perpetual look of concentration on my face.  I nearly always sport a ‘knitted brow’ and rarely focus my gaze on anything except what I am planning to do next.  My friend suggested that this look perpetuates an aura of negativity which is likely to be visually communicated to anyone that I meet resulting in my not really having many true friends. I am told that my look of facial concentration can be mistaken for intolerance of those around me although I want to say that it really isn’t.

I don’t really find this a problem but one of the few close friends that I do have pointed out to me that that could well be the way I come across to the people that see me for the first time.  As I said before, that doesn’t really bother me.  I usually leave home to shop for the obvious necessities and items to further whatever project I am pursuing at the time, but what I was told got me thinking a bit.   

I am not the sort of person that can drum up a conversation with a complete stranger at a social gathering, which is perhaps why I am not invited to many, but an observation like that does make you take a good look in the mirror.

I am a great believer in not worrying about anything unless I can do something constructive about it, and so I took a look at google and a little research guided me to one answer.  Being able to offer a smile makes a real difference and while there are many ways to change, this was one I felt that I should take on board. 

A little more research and face pulling in front of my own reflection has taught me that this is a ‘chicken and egg’ thing to do.  I have now been involving myself in short but regular bouts of private smiling practice and, even when alone, I find that I can’t do this successfully without feeling a little more positive in myself, and I have to say that the last thing that I have noticed is that when I do leave my house waring one, it really does appear to infect the people around me.  Some of them actually appear to be smiling back at me although that might be because I am actually taking the time to observe their reactions more these days.  So I think that I am introducing ‘infecting the people around me more positively’ to my list of ongoing personal projects.

VH, Merton

LPG found some information…

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