The phenomenon of Resting Bitch Face has recently been in the news. While amusing to some and serious to others there is another ubiquitous facial phenomenon that may be of similar interest. This ‘face’ or facial expression seems to be unique to New Yorkers: Walking Pain Face.

Many years ago, while a friend of mine was visiting from Japan we took the train into New York from my home in the suburbs. After an hour in the city my friend remarked “When you come to the city you have a ‘pained’ face.”

Ever since that astute observation, I have noticed how the overwhelming majority of people, both male and female, in Manhattan, as well as the outer boroughs seem to be buzzing around our fair city in tremendous pain. Why no one else has made public this observation I am not sure, although the identification of RBF seems to have taken awhile. The words ‘face’ and most likely
‘bitch’ have been around for some time.

It maybe true, as Jerry Seinfeld comically observed in one episode of his show; if you walk around seemingly annoyed at work people think you are busy. But what advantage is it to look like your in pain? Certainly no stranger in Gotham, (except perhaps the eternally upbeat and unbreakable Kimmey Schmidt) is going to stop and ask how you are doing when you look like you just had root canal. Perhaps that’s the subconscious message the city brings out in us, via our facial expression. “If I look extremely angry or in pain I will be perceived less of a target”. Hopefully then, all the other people in the world will leave me alone.

I’d like to say, “Relax your face, no reason to walk around as if your in tremendous pain.” The weather is great, at least for now, or it will be again, that’s for sure. We live in arguably the greatest city in world. Be happy in your misery if you want, but be aware that how you look is often a reflection of how you feel. If your not feeling like there’s a guy inside your head with a chisel trying to get out, relax that Walking Pain Face.