One reason why I struggle to smile.

[Laurel D]

You can see it in my pictures, But the left side of my face is weaker than the right side. This came from when I broke my jaw in high school football. That uneven is becomes way more apparent when I smile.  Kind of stinks. Specially since there isn't much I can do about it now.   I'm trying to learn to smile regardless but I get subconscious about it because it makes me feel ugly.


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[Cassi]

Keep trying!

Remember, when you smile, there are some people that think you know something they don't

[MeTony]

We are our own worst critic. I don't see anything wrong with your smile. Keep smiling! [emoji4]

In the second pic you have a mysterious smile. A bit like Mona Lisa.

Tony

[Allison S]

Yeah I agree with Tony I don't see anything wrong with your smile
It just means you have to smile wider and brighter to prove it to us [emoji4]

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[Bari Jo]

My absolute favorite smile is from the sister in Dexter.  She also has a weaker side.  Her smiles are always lopsided which I find endearing.  Don't worry about it being not symmetric.  People still can see the happy and respond in kind.  I have a hard time smiling also.  I'm learning but for me it's psychological.

Bari Jo

[Devlyn]

I think you have a beautiful smile. 

Hugs, Devlyn

[meatwagon]

ugly?  hell no, a lopsided grin just adds +10 charm. 
i don't know what my case is, but one half my face is way more expressive than the other.  i know i've also had times where i felt self conscious about it, but after realizing people with even more extreme asymmetries have the nicest smiles i've ever seen, i've decided to take it for what it is.  nobody's perfectly symmetrical anyway, so most folks won't notice at first glance--and if they do, that doesn't make it a bad thing!  you just gotta let that natural light shine through and roll with it. 

[Donna]

I see nothing wrong with your smile. Keep smiling, you smile inside your self when ever you smile and it can only make you happier

[Virginia 71]

I don't think there is anything wrong with your smile either...and by the way I LOVE YOUR HAIR!!!   

[Rachel]

I see a beautiful smile, be you.

[Laurel D]

Thanks for all of the nice comments. You are all right, I guess it doesn't matter about the asymmetry of my face.

I don't think there is anything wrong with your smile either...and by the way I LOVE YOUR HAIR!!!   

Hair was my second frustration. So thank you, that means a lot to me. I actually ran into another black transwoman at a Trans day of visibility event ( she is really gorgeous, and well put together, you know the things I want to be one day.) But she is actually going to help me with my hair and point me in the right direction as far as non judgmental stylist.

ugly?  hell no, a lopsided grin just adds +10 charm. 
i don't know what my case is, but one half my face is way more expressive than the other.  i know i've also had times where i felt self conscious about it, but after realizing people with even more extreme asymmetries have the nicest smiles i've ever seen, i've decided to take it for what it is.  nobody's perfectly symmetrical anyway, so most folks won't notice at first glance--and if they do, that doesn't make it a bad thing!  you just gotta let that natural light shine through and roll with it.

Thank you my friend. I'm going to work on just rolling with it.

.  I'm learning but for me it's psychological.

Bari Jo

That is part of my equation as well. It comes from the way I was brought up. But I am trying to unlearn that. Because I feel better when I smile and people treat me better, when I smile.

[blackcat]

Another vote for smiles!

"A smile is the shortest distance between two people."

My partner's smile is asymmetrical and I love him to death for it. I can do the Elvis thing, but only on one side of my face, and sometimes I look kooky in pictures, but I tell myself that's just because I'm better in real life. 

Sometimes we're our own worst critics.

Consider, too, how smiling means the same thing in every language.

[CarlyMcx]

My face is not symmetrical thanks to a car accident when I was sixteen (I was a passenger).  I've had TMJ syndrome ever since and chronic teeth grinding thanks to the anxiety and dysphoria.  I am only just starting to recover. The left corner of my mouth droops a little and my smile is a little crooked.  I just use contouring makeup as much as I can and smile and enjoy life as much as possible.

[big kim]

I never smiled as I had crooked front teeth (lost most at the back through fighting & speed) which made the front go crooked. Finally got them straight though I have a lower one missing which I may get an implant

[Cindy]

I shall join the chorus.

Laurel you have a lovely smile and I've read many of your posts and you also have a smile in way you write.
Lovely.

As for Kim, I know about her missing tooth as I can hear the whistle as she rides her Harley 

[Northstar]

I too think you have a lovely smile... and you deserve to enjoy using it!   

{{{HUGS}}} 

[V M]

I've had a broken jaw among other fine things but hey, gotta keep smilin' 

It's a trip, some folks give me stack if I'm not smiling others think I'm up to something if I do

Tell me when to smile or not? Up their's,  I'll smile when I feel like it