RBF

Resting Bitch Face.  You either have it or you don’t.  And if you have it, you know it.  How do you know it?  I can give you 3 questions to ask yourself:

1) Are people constantly asking you to smile?

2) Do you ever get asked for directions on the street?

3) Has a friend, coworker, or family member asked you “are you ok?” when you were totally fine?

If your answers were:

1) Yes

2) No

3) Yes

Then you have an RBF.  Congratulations! 

People are always asking me to smile.  And by always, I mean the most recent time was yesterday. People I know and people I don’t know.  I have had someone shout out from their car as I walked down the sidewalk , I have had people walk by me and stop me, coworkers, friends, the list goes on. 

I first realized I had resting bitch face when a boyfriend in high school told me that his ex-girlfriend was telling him that I was giving her dirty looks.  I was so confused.  I barely saw this girl in the confines of our high school hallways and certainly did not waste my energy on giving her a dirty look (after all, I got the man!)

He told me this more than once and I was really confused.  I actually had no recollection of seeing her one of these supposed instances, let alone giving her a specific stare or grimace.  I soon realized, I have a resting bitch face on at all times, even when I don’t know it.

When I started living in New York, I began perfecting my RBF.  The cat calling was enough to solidify in my head that resting bitch face was not such a horrible thing.  When I was studying in Paris for a semester, fellow female students were experiencing sexual assault and I knew I needed to avoid interactions with suspicious strangers at all costs.  RBF kept many odd characters at bay. 

But, times have changed.  Now, living in New York City and feeling more comfortable in my surroundings, I don’t need RBF as much but the problem is, it is there to stay.  As wonderful as it is that I hardly ever get asked for directions or drawn into spontaneous conversation on the subway, it is frustrating when I don’t realize I have an RBF and then I am reminded when I am encouraged to smile. . .BY A STRANGER.  Was I frowning?

I go back and forth on my feelings about my resting bitch face.  However, I think I embrace it more than I find it an inconvenience.  I also realize that many don’t have the luxury of an RBF but may want to have one. 

Please see below some recommended tunes that will most definitely inspire a resting bitch face.  And, if you naturally have an RBF and don’t need anything to motivate you, congratulations and keep NOT smiling.

01. “Sick of Life” by Godsmack

02. “Blow Ya Mind” Nicki Minaj
03. “Gods Gonna Cut You Down” by Johnny Cash

04. “Big Bad Wolf” by In This Moment

05. “Kyoto” by Skrillex

06. “The Vengeful One” by Disturbed

07. “Sabotage” by Beastie Boys

08. “Rockstar” Rihanna

09. “He Ain’t Wit Me Now (Tho)” by Richgirl

10. “You Know What You Are” by Nine Inch Nails

11. “Let’s Go” by Trick Daddy

12. “Big Truck” by Coal Chamber

13. “Stem” by Static-X

14. “Flawless” by Beyoncé (remix with Nicki Minaj works too)

15. “Clique” by Kanye West, Jay-Z & Big Sean

16. “Sleazy” by Ke$ha

17. “A/B Machines” by Sleigh Bells

18. “Somebody Someone” by Korn

19. “Sound of Madness” by Shinedown

20. “Fight Night” by Migos