A Small Pet Peeve.

Kind of short on time, but wanted to throw something up just to keep the pace.

One of my least favorite things to hear, whether directed at me or at someone around me...   "You need to smile" or "You should cheer up."  I often hear that while sitting at work.  One patron will turn to another and tell them that they need to be happier.  Without taking the effort to find out the first thing about what is going on in someone else's life, they'll take it upon themselves to offer advice.

I don't know.  It just strikes me as rather presumptuous.  Who am I to tell someone else that they're too gloomy?  For all I know, that person just buried a family member.  Buried a cat.  Lost a job.   Discovered their mother has cancer.  What do I know?  Who am I to tell that person that they need to cheer up?  Who is anyone?  It's something I hear repeatedly and it makes me cringe every time.

What to say instead?  How about "How are you?"  Or "Hey, is everything ok?"

One would seem to dictate to another their feelings.  The other to allow them expression.   One forces another person into our mold.  The other respects the person next to us.

I'll tell you now, if you ever tell me that I need to smile, odds are I'm going to tell you to need to fuck off.  Don't be surprised when it happens.