Unapproachable? Give Me Five Minutes, You’ll Be Laughing!

You know, it’s funny how people perceive you when they first meet you. I’ve been told that I give off an “attitude vibe,” as if I’m floating on an imaginary cloud of self-importance.

The feedback about my alleged “attitude” has come from several people over the years. The pattern goes something like this: First impression: “Wow, she seems unapproachable, maybe even a bit… high maintenance.” A few conversations later: “Wait, she’s actually really friendly… where did that attitude go?”

“Don’t judge a book by its cover,” they say, but in my case, people tend to see the cover, read the blurb, and still get the whole plot wrong! I suspect it’s a result of my natural resting face, which, let’s be honest, isn’t exactly beaming with sunshine. Somewhere between looking lost in thought and plotting a world takeover, my default expression has unintentionally convinced many that I must be too busy, too serious, or too… something else. As comedian George Carlin once said, “I don’t have an attitude problem. You have a perception problem!”

The truth is, I’m often analyzing the best way to handle a situation or thinking about how to lift others up. My mind races to find the positives in everything, which, come to think of it, is probably why I look so serious! I’m too busy mentally rewiring the universe to smile all the time.

The hilarious part is that the minute people start talking to me, they realize I’m the furthest thing from ‘attitude central.’ I crack jokes, usually at my own expense, and love making people feel comfortable. I think we all need a little humor in our lives, especially during tough times. You never know what someone’s going through, so why not be the person who makes them laugh? As Mark Twain wisely noted, “Against the assault of laughter, nothing can stand.”

Apparently, my ‘unapproachability’ has the shelf life of a carton of milk left out in the sun. It spoils quickly, and soon people realize that there’s not a drop of pretension in me.

This probably stems from my strong belief that there’s good in everyone. Even when the world feels like it’s conspiring against me (like when I’m in a rush, and the universe sends me the slowest cashier in existence), I still try to see the positive. After all, maybe that cashier needed a break, and moving at the pace of a glacier was her way of staying sane! Like Albert Einstein said, “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” Maybe this was my chance to learn patience, even if it was just while standing in a checkout line.

We all have layers. Maybe on the outside, I seem a bit aloof or preoccupied, but dig deeper, and you’ll find someone who truly cares about others and sees the best in them. It’s just that sometimes, my grocery list or that new series I’m thinking about watching might get in the way of my approachable expression.

So, to anyone who’s ever thought I have an attitude: Give me five minutes, and I guarantee you’ll be laughing with me (or at me). As the late, great Robin Williams said, “I think the saddest people always try their hardest to make people happy. Because they know what it feels like to feel absolutely worthless, and they don’t want anybody else to feel like that.”

And remember, the next time you meet someone with a “serious” look, they might just be planning the world’s next great comedy routine in their head. Or, you know, deciding between pasta or pizza for dinner.

As Oscar Wilde so brilliantly put it, “Life is too important to be taken seriously.” So, here’s to smiling, laughing, and embracing every little quirk that makes us who we are.

I’ve always aimed to inspire people around me and lift their spirits. You can follow me on YouTube at @SharonInspires (https://youtube.com/@sharoninspires?si=9GcaJNgr_38BKgd5), where I’ll be sharing a Daily Dose of Inspiration to uplift myself and everyone around me.