Smile! (or maybe don’t)

My parents often complain I’m too serious and that I should smile more, but I never understood this need to look happy all the time, even if I’m not. A few people are capable beaming to everyone they pass by on the street, sharing a brief moment of empathy amidst the indifferent city crowd and I really do admire this gesture— as long as it’s a genuine reaction.

I have no problem in laughing though, in fact, sometimes I do it a little more than what would be adequate; on the other hand, when it comes to smiling to strangers or even for a photo, I’m totally unable to do it without letting my face look like a rotten lettuce. It’s unbelievably fake. Yet, I still do it sometimes just to look like a decent human being, but it makes me very, very uncomfortable, and if I do keep my rbf in cases I’m expected to correspond someone with a smile, others will think I’m mad or sad when it’s only my usual relaxed face.

Eh, it’s quite complicated, but I intend to stick to my no-need-no-smile policy, even though it might drift people away, that smiley, always vibrant person is not me, that’s not who I am. I try my best to be pretty chill with my friends but… I haven’t properly talked to my friends (maybe one or two exceptions) for a couple of weeks now, and at the same time I like doing that, I don’t really miss it. Is there a problem with me?