,I didn’t expect much similarity between a Chinese immigrant and a Japanese immigrant. Chinese are more community oriented than Japanese. Japanese tend to wall themselves off. But when the actress, Lucy Liu, talked about smiling all the time, it struck me that I smiled all the time too. Regardless of Chinese or Japanese, smiling has been expected of a good girl.
Same with American culture, but not expected of all girls. I remember at one Christmas party I attended when I was 19. A drunk woman called me a Chink, and I just sat there smiling. My acquaintance, Lisa, was so annoyed. She said, “How could you let her call you Chink and sit there smiling?”
Well, that’s what I was taught and disciplined. A nice girl didn’t talk back. She just smiled.
Recently, I’ve learned something new about smiling.
Sadhguru, The guru I have been following for the past 5 years or so said, joyful face is beautiful to behold. Try smiling with your bones. Well, that sounds good to me! Smiling face not as a mast to wear, but to express the inner state of joy.
FUJIKO SUDA 