“The smile beneath the mask—or how to communicate emotion while most of our faces are covered up.”
I’m doing all I can to accept the new normal of mask-wearing 2020. Don’t get me wrong. I believe in all the life-saving reasons. I really do. Thing is, along with trying to breathe while dealing with a chronic sinus thing and a lifelong claustrophobia condition about mask-wearing I face stuff that I hate to face on my face.
But the non-smiling thing. It’s alienating. Even punishing. I love smiling at people and love the smile back. I miss it all. And forget about those goofy masks with painted smiles across them that only give me nightmares. Like trying to cozy up to Chucky. No, I just miss the genuine, warm-hearted smiles.
I mean, I come from a very smiley, huggy family (don’t get me started missing the hugs!) And now? Yes, we’re meant to focus on the twinkly eyes. The warmth of conversation—six feet away. The hand wave. All substitutes for that good, old-fashioned, grin from ear-to-ear.
Continue reading “An interview with Jesse Wilson (“The Mask Guy”)”