Just because I don't smile a lot, people think, 'Ah, yeah. He

Host: The soft hum of the evening filled the room, creating a space for a thoughtful conversation. Jack sat at the table, his fingers gently resting on his cup, reflecting on Wilfried Zaha's words. Jeeny stood near the window, her gaze directed outward, considering the deeper meaning of the statement.

Jeeny: “I’ve been thinking about what Wilfried Zaha said: ‘Just because I don’t smile a lot, people think, “Ah, yeah. He must have a bad attitude.” But if you don’t know me, you don’t know me. That was the problem. My face is just serious!’ It’s so relatable, don’t you think? How easily people jump to conclusions about others based on their outward appearance or demeanor. It speaks to how much we often misinterpret others, assuming things that aren’t true just because we don’t understand them fully.”

Jack: “Yes, exactly. Zaha is pointing out that judgments about personality or attitude are often based on external appearances—in this case, something as simple as a serious face. It’s a reminder of how we often assume things about people without really knowing them, just based on what we see on the surface. His serious face became a barrier to how others saw him, even though it didn’t reflect his true personality at all.”

Jeeny: “Right. And I think it’s also about how we label people based on the way they present themselves. Zaha is saying that just because he doesn’t smile a lot doesn’t mean he has a bad attitude or is unfriendly. It’s just his expression—and yet, people assumed so much about him based on that. It’s a reminder that we often form opinions without looking deeper, without understanding what’s really going on behind the surface.”

Host: The stillness in the room deepened as they reflected on the impact of external perceptions and how easily we misinterpret others. Jack’s fingers rested on the table, while Jeeny’s expression softened, considering how important it is to look beyond appearances to truly understand people.

Jack: “It makes me think about how often we do this with others. We judge people’s personalities, their intentions, based on how they look or act on the outside. But Zaha is showing us that we can’t always trust those first impressions. Expressions, gestures, and demeanor don’t always reflect someone’s true nature. His serious face doesn’t mean he’s unfriendly—it just means that’s how he expresses himself. We can’t judge people by their outward appearances alone.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. Zaha is challenging us to think about how quickly we make judgments based on what we see, and how that limits our understanding of someone. It’s easy to assume that someone’s face or behavior is an indicator of their attitude or mood, but often, it’s just a matter of personal expression. Zaha is reminding us that people are more complex than the expressions we see on the surface.”

Jack: “And I think that’s the core of his point—people are multidimensional. We’re all more than just what we show outwardly. Zaha is showing us that our expressions don’t always align with how we feel on the inside, and assuming the opposite can lead to misunderstandings. He’s asking us to stop judging others so quickly and to take the time to get to know them.”

Jeeny: “Yes, and it’s also a reminder that we shouldn’t define someone by just one characteristic. Zaha may appear serious, but that doesn’t mean he’s unfriendly or angry—it’s just how he looks. There’s so much more to who he is than just his facial expression. When we judge people based on limited information, we miss out on truly understanding who they are.”

Host: The quiet in the room grew deeper as they reflected on the implications of Zaha’s statement. His words served as a reminder to look beyond the surface, to approach people with understanding and openness, and not to judge based solely on appearance or first impressions. Jack leaned back slightly in his chair, while Jeeny’s gaze turned from the window back to him, both of them understanding the depth of Zaha’s message.

Jack: “So, Zaha is really showing us that people are more than just their outward expressions. We can’t judge someone based on how they look or act on the surface—true understanding comes from knowing them deeply, beyond just the physical.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. Zaha reminds us that expressions are just one small part of a person. There’s so much more beneath the surface, and if we want to truly understand someone, we need to look beyond their face and take the time to get to know them. Judging someone based only on appearances limits our ability to truly connect with them.”

Host: The evening had fully settled in, the quiet understanding between them a reminder that judging others based on superficial traits limits our understanding of who they truly are. Wilfried Zaha had shown them that to really understand someone, we must look beyond the surface and take the time to learn more. The world outside had darkened, but inside, there was light—a recognition that true understanding comes from not just looking at someone’s expression, but from connecting with the whole person.