Adrian Chiles, the broadcaster and Guardian columnist, has declared that he wants to change his face. The 59-year-old says he has spent his entire life looking miserable, and he is now determined to adopt a more cheerful expression before he turns 60 next year.
Chiles, who was once described in the Daily Mirror as “the gloomy 46-year-old”, says he is now “the gloomy 59-year-old”. He explains that even when he is smiling, he still exudes gloom, and people frequently ask him what is wrong. When he tells friends that all is good, they often suggest he should tell that to his face.
A Turning Point in a Trieste Cafe
The inspiration for this change came last month when Chiles saw a man in a cafe in Trieste. He was so struck by the man's sunny disposition that he couldn't take his eyes off him. The man had a faint smile, kindness in his eyes, and an aura of quiet contentment. Chiles describes the man's demeanor as infectious, making the whole city feel afloat on a sea of gladness.
Chiles says he wants to be like that man instead of his opposite, exuding bleakness. However, he acknowledges that a resting happy face is not something you can simply paint on, even if you like the look of a stranger's jib. He tried a big grin in the cafe, but it didn't fit, and even the happy man looked unsettled.
The Struggle to Smile Naturally
Chiles admits he can't smile right. He can smile nicely if he bumps into someone he likes, if his team scores a goal, or if someone says something amusing, but getting a default, resting happy face is beyond him. He thinks the problem is all the thinking about it, comparing it to walking: if he thought non-stop about walking, he'd soon trip over his feet.
His facial muscles are in constant motion in search of a natural smile they can live with. He says smiling the wrong smile, especially at women, feels a bit forward, and smiling at blokes might even invite a fight. He's spooking people, and clocking his reflection in a shop window, he spooks himself.
Finding a New Countenance
Chiles is considering a survey to ask people what his facial expression is conveying. In the meantime, he plans to practise into a mirror, seeking a countenance that suggests mildness, tolerance, hope, and openness—anything but gloom.
He concludes that his seventh decade will be his cheery era, and he asks who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks. He notes it just takes longer than you might hope.
