I have heard that often .... American smiles are fake.

My response .... I am not like every other American.

Really ... I try very hard to take people for who they are. An individual person I have come in contact with. There are no preconceived notions or ideas. To me they are a clean slate. I do not judge someone based on culture, religion, sex, color or socioeconomic status. I choose to smile. I choose to be friendly.

However, because I smile and want to present myself in a friendly manner, does not mean I am not wary OR that I am not genuine in my smile.

I wear my emotions quite openly. One can always tell if I am sad, happy, joyful, angry and a whole host of reasons I may wear an expression.

But to smile ... to a person I do not know ... maybe, just maybe with that one small act of kindness ... maybe I have touched them in a way that is good. Maybe they can pass it on to another.

If I frown all the time ... wrinkles, I do not want them. I want joy. passion. even in the bad times.

meh .... to each their own I guess. But a smile makes me feel good.