I have never really been a morning person, and to make matters worse, some days one or both of my eyes will just not open as wide as they can (which is already narrower than most people’s).  Since I can’t really control the muscles in my eyelids, there is nothing I can do about it.  So I just end up looking tired or indifferent.

I’ve had people tell me that I have looked tired before, and I don’t say anything, but in my head I’m thinking, “No, that’s just my eyes.” I can never predict how I am going to look.  It is funny, I feel normal, and I don’t notice unless I look in the mirror, or at a picture.

The other day I went for a long 4 mile walk and took some selfies.  When I looked at them later, I noticed it was just one of those days where my right eye would just not open all of the way:

I have tried to be more aware of it over the years, because I know the importance of non-verbal communication.  And at work especially, I have found that I have to try harder to look alert and not indifferent, disinterested, or tired.