Does anyone feel just a bit awkward about doing some every day things?

[Pyri]

I am a successful, confident woman in every day life. So why do I feel like such a prize idiot doing normal things like:

• taking stuff back to the tiny post office counter that’s in the corner shop, I feel weirdly guilty about doing ASOS returns there without buying anything
• taking my car to a car wash, feeling like I’m going to prang it going around corners then feeling a bit awkward not knowing when to tell them I only want the outside doing / not sure where to look when they’re buffing the windscreen / wondering if I’ll run over their toes when pulling forward
• literally anything to do with conversing with workmen

WHY?!! Does anyone else manage perfectly in real life but feel just a bit awkward with these minor interactions?

@Laska2Meryls

The worst for me is when you know someone vaguely but not really well enough to chat to much and you meet them accidentally when out.. ok woth the greeting and 30 sec small talk but them you turn to leave and they are going the same way as you! Or getting the same train bus or going to the same cafe etc . Excruciating.. What do you do? .. you dont want to walk with them or to have to sit with them for the whole journey .. but what do you do.. ? I just say something like ' well nice seeing you' and hope that they dont want to sit with me either! In a worse case I may even get the next train but you cant always do that..

I hate this so much! I’m always so scared they’ll try and sit near me.

Also generally things I’m not expecting. Like when I see someone from one situation eg work in another place. It makes my mind boggle and I don’t know what to say.

Seeing someone who I haven’t seen in 10 years but have on social media and occasionally like their posts. I can’t actually talk to them in real life!

@Chichimcgee

Walking out of a shop without buying anything.

I swear I start swaggering and acting shifty even though I haven’t stolen anything!

It’s worse when it’s one of those handmade craft stalls. I feel like I have to look for an extra long time and then say I’ll come back later.

I sometimes become overly aware of my arms and then I'm never quite sure what to do them. Am I holding them weird when I walk, taking a photo, dancing 🙈

Also answering the door to takeaway deliveries. Not too soon or it looks like I've been looking out for him. I suspect this is a hang up from being fat!

Yes! And you can’t ask for a price because then you have to buy it or make up some long winded story about having to talk to your imaginary husband and you can’t just put it back you have to stand there and seriously consider paying £175 for a handmade bookmark. It’s stressful.

The bus, the butcher's (how many sausages/ what is half a pound), the post office, I don't actually like going to the hairdresses I feel like I hold my breath

@VanillaAndOrange

Going to the same coffee shop too many times in a row as I’m really scared they will remember my order. So I have to go to a different shop so they forget me. Or I order a different coffee to normal so they dont say “the usual”

Yes yes yes! I hate the thought of them thinking I spend "too much time" in cafes (I probably do, and my nearest and dearest know that, but I don't want everybody to know!) And I don't like being seen to be predictable in what I order either, which is frustrating when there's a clear favourite item but I don't feel able to have it every time.

I wonder why this is a thing! I have a few nice independent places around me so I switch it up I planned on going to one a few days ago but saw one of the baristas in the street and there was that awkward smile so had to go somewhere else!

Definitely hiding if I spot someone I know on the street or on the bus. I don’t know why this is my gut reaction, it could be someone I quite like talking to or anything but my gut instinct is to hide and pretend I haven’t seen them.

Oh my god waiting for 1p change. I know cash is t much of a thing anymore but even sometimes the receipt or whatever I'm like.. are we ok..is it done..has it gone through aaaargh

When you are at a cafe at the counter. You ask what something is and when they start explaining you realise you don’t like it but have to listen and go “hmmm” as if it’s a really hard choice then when you choose the original food item and feel like you have to explain why.

@Wallawallakoala

Oh my god waiting for 1p change. I know cash is t much of a thing anymore but even sometimes the receipt or whatever I'm like.. are we ok..is it done..has it gone through aaaargh

If you get a deal on something eg £3 instead of £5 but then you give them a £5 note. So awful!

I find it really awkward paying contactless.
Has it worked? Has it gone through? How do I know if I can leave?

@BiscuitLover3678 eww yes! Even worse of you don't know the bloody offer is on and you have to run back to get another one.

Sorry I mean if it's like a 3 for 2 or something

Definitely hiding if I spot someone I know on the street

I pretend to be on the phone and do the awkward British smile/nod

I can relate to so many of these and I thought it was just me! It seems I am not alone hoorah!

My top ones are:

I hate getting my shopping at Aldi and they literally throw it down the checkout at you and I feel all rushed and panicked to get it in my trolley fast! (But I do like Aldi food and prices!)

I hate having hair/beauty treatments done and not being able to just sit there in silence and relax as I feel I have to make small talk all the time.

I hate having to call up tradespeople and hate having them in my house. Feel so awkward.

I hate going to the bottle bank/recycling bank and trying to put my cans/bottles etc in those big bins and it's so high up I'm standing there on tip toes trying to reach whilst other people wait for me!

I hate having to make small talk with other mums whilst we wait for the kids to come out of nursery.

Oh when you do self check out and are inspected to see if you’re allowed those paracetamol so you have to stand there with a red light above your head like an utter eejit so someone can tell you it’s ok. Same for unexplained item in the bagging area.

I actually got asked for id buying paracetamol a few weeks ago. I’m 34, haven’t needed id for years and don’t carry it. Not been in the shop since. I’m too embarrassed.

@Chichimcgee I am also 34 and got id'd for paracetamol, I asked how old you had to be and she said 15?!?

Maybe when we’re 64 we’ll only look 30?!

I used to get my haircut once a year at one of those budget salons as I felt like they'd be laughing at me in a salon! I got talking to a very down to earth woman who turned out to be this amazing hairdresser. I used to go every 8 weeks religiously as her clients and colleagues were rougher than me 😂 I then moved 35 miles away but still go to her every 3 months as I can't face the stress of that yearly haircut again !!

Oh and I can't call anyone I don't know unless it's an absolute emergency. If a restaurant doesn't do online booking I don't go. Just had a roof and fence replaced and all done by Facebook messenger

Totally agree about the car wash. I've never been in a machine one, if I go to the one with men doing the cleaning I have to have someone else in the car. Otherwise I don't know where to look. It's still stressful cos they want you to go to certain areas and I DONT KNOW the routine!

I also hate taking my DC to the barbers. I never know which number shaver he needs or wtf to ask for.

Saying good bye to people in person.
Like when a relative leaves or you are leaving work for the day.
A w k w a r d

Oh and I have several leaks in my house. I just put bowls under and change them daily cos I dont know which plumber to use or what to say to them.

Oh god I was at the car wash today and I freaking hate it. I was thinking to myself, I wonder if others feel this way!

Hate conversing with workmen too - even the window cleaner who's been coming years. Find it all so awkward.

Crying laughing at 'Bumhugs' post!

I actually haven't laughed like that for years.