gettin off topic, but kia perhaps its a good time to finish up your degree. Engineering jobs are always needed, you'd be set for life! I'm saying this because I am finally  attending nursing school after a similar "oppourtunity" presented itself. I thought there'd be no way to do it, but I trudged on and found a way. Its a lot like our respective transitions...insurmountable at a glance, but doable one step at a time. 

Quote from: TiffanyT on March 17, 2013, 10:25:06 PM
Smile.

Tiffany, with a smile like that, you don't need to show teeth. It's just beautiful. People should be falling all over themselves to get to know you...

Quote from: Carrie Liz on March 18, 2013, 04:13:58 AM
Before beginning transition, although I was a very positive person, I really didn't smile that much. In fact, people often asked me "what's the matter?" even when I was just doing a neutral expression.

But ever since starting transition... oh heck yes!!! I NEVER stop smiling. Because for the first time ever, my smile is actually starting to look cute again, and not just like a stupid fake "guy smile." And having the right hormones in my head is making me SO much happier! Anything amusing gets me giggling like a little school girl, and whenever I make videos of myself I always end up laughing at least once or twice while I'm just talking to the camera. And a couple of days ago, one of my coworkers even said that she remembered me specifically because I was always smiling.

Feels great! One of my new goals in life is to help fill the world with smiles.

I think that's interesting...I don't know if it has more to do with the "right hormones" being in your head or estrogen specifically (probably both) but I recently read a study that concluded men (presumably cismen) with lower T levels tended to be seen as more "genuine" when they smiled, even though men with higher T counts were perceived as more social on average.

I'm MAAB, and I'm not on hormones at least at this point...and I find I am a natural smiler, but I also think some people don't really know what to do make of it. Most people tell me I have a nice smile, and even go out of their way to say it, but other people have said it doesn't look genuine. And that's probably true. I tend towards feeling sad in general. 

In high school they called me the person who "was always smiling" and used to say a sad me "just didn't make any sense", even though I was very depressed back then.

But it's not like I put it on to be fake or anything...I wasn't even aware I was like this till I started seeing videos of myself. It just kind of comes naturally when I relate to people. Perhaps it is some kind of defense mechanism.

Or a part of me hopes, maybe, if I keep on smiling and trying to make the best of things my emotions will change for the better as well. There is some optimist buried deep down inside me that just won't die. My username is proof enough of that.

So keep smiling. I wish the world was more full of them too. 

Quote from: Brooke777 on March 22, 2013, 09:39:19 AM
Yeah, I'm not dwelling in the past. "I'm worried about the future". I know I have food today, and a roof over my head for me and my son. But, I don't know what will happen at the end of next month. Right now, I could not care less about the past. It's all about the future.

Kia Ora Brooke,

It's all about 'NOW' ! The future is continually unfolding into the present moment...

"Those who fear they shall suffer, already suffer what they fear !" Montaigne

Good luck with job hunting Brooke, " Opportunity knocks and is waiting patiently "

Metta Zenda
 

Quote from: Kuan Yin on March 23, 2013, 12:13:35 AM
Kia Ora Brooke,

It's all about 'NOW' ! The future is continually unfolding into the present moment...

"Those who fear they shall suffer, already suffer what they fear !" Montaigne

Good luck with job hunting Brooke, " Opportunity knocks and is waiting patiently "

Metta Zenda

I love Montaigne, lovely.

I do love to smile, but I find that other people tend to smile first at me when I present as a woman (as opposed to hardly making eye contact to my guy presentation). I can simply look at children and they would smile or even wave or say 'hello', which is such a big change from other people just returning my own smiles! I love it.

 In public, I smile if I see that the moment is correct to do so, often as a formality, or even as the answer to a request (people ask/tell me to smile every now and then).

With my family, I will smile when there's humour going on. This is quite often, as I am extremely hilarious around them.

Kia Ora,

It would seem for the most part, smiling and frowning are 'habits'... One wholesome in that it releases feel good chemicals in the brain  the other not so wholesome producing stress and tension...

Metta Zenda

Well I am an other. I don't really smile or frown for the most part. I'm more neutral. I used to apparently look pissed off all the time when I was in school. My brother had the same habit, but I guess now I have the neutral mysterious look to me. I became good at hiding what I'm thinking, feeling, wanting by not making a face at all.

As a note which may or may not have been pointed out: The difference between passing and not sometimes is as simple as the right smile, at least for MTF. Males as a general rule don't have a smiley neutral expression, whereas a lot of females do. I've heard this is due to the historically inferior roles females had to males, ie we needed to use persuasion rather than aggression to get our way. But it's true. Also, we thinner lasses can have a problem with our faces looking a little gaunt and hence showing more male bone structure. A small smile rounds your cheeks and negates a lot of that. Check it out in the mirror.

Oh, to answer the question, although I'm always female inside, I am a scowler  when I'm presenting as male, and a smiler  when I'm presenting as female.

Quote from: MiaOhMya! on March 22, 2013, 10:36:52 PM
gettin off topic, but kia Brooke perhaps its a good time to finish up your degree. Engineering jobs are always needed, you'd be set for life! I'm saying this because I am finally  attending nursing school after a similar "oppourtunity" presented itself. I thought there'd be no way to do it, but I trudged on and found a way. Its a lot like our respective transitions...insurmountable at a glance, but doable one step at a time. 

Kia Ora MOM,

True...

However, the person's name is Brooke, she's the one who works in the engineering field ....But I'm sure she'll read your comment anyway...

Metta Zenda

Quote from: MiaOhMya! on March 22, 2013, 10:36:52 PM
gettin off topic, but kia perhaps its a good time to finish up your degree. Engineering jobs are always needed, you'd be set for life! I'm saying this because I am finally  attending nursing school after a similar "oppourtunity" presented itself. I thought there'd be no way to do it, but I trudged on and found a way. Its a lot like our respective transitions...insurmountable at a glance, but doable one step at a time. 

I never went to school for engineering. I actually just do it because it is really easy and pays well. Whenever I do go back to school, I will be going to get my PhD in psychotherapy. That is where my true passion lies. As for finding a job, I am a bit worried but that is because most employers see me as over qualified and won't hire me. I have an...impressive work history. As soon as I find someone that will give me a chance I will be fine. Thank you for the suggestion though.