Very 'normal' things that make you feel awkward

[DancingDucks]

First of all I'm sticking a 'lighthearted' in here. 😊

A friend and I had this conversation the other day and it made us both laugh, so maybe it'll cheer up a wet and windy day for some.

Some of mine:

When people wish me happy birthday on Facebook. It's very lovely of people but makes me feel so weird and embarrassed, so I now have my birthday hidden.

Waiting to get off a bus. Not sure what I think will happen, but I get all weird and stressed in case I forget to thank the driver. Which would never happen because it's so drummed into me.

Standing behind people at a cash machine. Even though I stand well back, I fear I might look a shifty and robby type, so try to arrange my face as benignly as possible, hence looking slightly vacant.

Walking past my own house. This is so weird and I've no idea why it makes me feel like I should give a jolly wave to my house.

Please tell me I'm not alone in my weirdness ...

I'm gen X and I've always hated phone calls well before mobile phones were a thing.

My mum used to do a little role play with me what the person was likely to say and how I should respond. (I was a teenager!) Once someone called and asked if I was my sister and i got flustered, and for some stupid reason I said yes! (It was a family friend/aunt and they probably didn't mind which one of us she spoke to) I still feel embarrassed about it 30 years later 🤣

I'm still really bemused by all the folks who talk really loudly, and at length on the phone - about all manner of stuff (some personal) on trains. I would rather eat my own arm that receive or make a phone call on the train!

I could tick all of these so far, no exaggeration. I must be much older than all of you because for the last 20/30 years I’ve suffered to a much lesser degree or not at all now. I see my DS going through it all now though and no amount of ‘I used to be exactly the same’ is making it any easier for him. So all I can say is you’ll get there too hopefully.

Yes, this! I've never been a fan of talking on phones anyway as I can't seem to hear what the other person is saying although nobody else I have come across seems to have this issue.

But also, the reverse! Why will others have personal phone conversations when I'm in the room?!? (to say nothing of on the train or the bus); I've just had to leave work to spend the rest of my lunch in the rain because a colleague was having a very personal conversation with a friend about their respective partners, in the staff room!

I could only hear one end of the conversation, but was embarrassed for both of them and left.

SHOULDN'T IT BE THE COLLEAGUE LEAVING???!???

I HATE this!! I would so much rather not receive a gift than have to open it in front of the giver 😂😂 I always try to prepare my face to look happy so probably just come across deranged

Making phonecalls. Hate speaking on the phone. Much prefer making online appointments. Talking to hairdresser. Don't do small talk but I feel awkward just sitting there!

Opening gifts in front of people! Aaaah!

Possibly the only benefit of the Covid era was that kissing friends, whether on one or two cheeks, was not possible. Sadly this social routine has crept back.

Work colleagues asking 'how are you' every single sodding day. Just say hello and leave it at that! I can't cope with trying to answer it every single time.

I use my elbows and on a few occastions my foot. 🤐

When my partner starts singing at me in the car...I don't know what to do with myself! I just hate it and want him to shut up, I never sing in front of him.

Speaking to my neighbours. Lived here 15 years. Still awkward about talking to them in passing and frequently use the back door to avoid them.

Probably more when I was a child but if anything went missing or teachers said someone was cheating-even though I knew I was completely innocent-I would feel guilty and worried about it.

I had this exact same thing. Was so awkward.

I’m loving this thread!

I also have the hairdresser and window cleaner aversion!

I feel most awkward when at the checkout in a foreign supermarket! I hate that I can’t speak the language, that my purchases are mainly booze and crisps and they’re judging me. That there might not be an electronic display for the total and I won’t understand the number they tell me. Also I never seem to have the right change and that annoys the person at the checkout. Taking too long and getting side eyes from the locals. All of it - super super awkward.

Ah, a thread where the awkward and overthinkers of MN unite - happy to report, I feel virtually all of the things on this thread and am so happy to know I'm not alone.

We used to live on a bus route and I used to hide when I heard the bus coming in case someone looked in and saw me (think I just outed myself to my sibling there 👋).

Those half hug half hand shake and air kisses on your cheeks! I bloody hate them! Just shake my hand and have done with it! I get confused and always feel like I'm going to do a Rachel from Friends and accidentally land a kiss on someone because I'm so mixed up. 🤣

Voice notes! My best friend sends me them and so I do reply, but I'm rubbish at them. I listen back to them and I just ramble!

Overtaking people when walking on pavements. I don’t want them to think I’m judging them for their slower pace. But the moment of actually passing them feels like it takes forever and it’s just so awkward!

My hairdresser has zero interest in this. She probably would charge if I asked for it. So I make do without 😁
Do you know if they usually charge, or is it a complimentary addition?

My late uncle was a very sweet man, but very shy. If he was out in the front garden doing something and he could see someone approaching on the street, he would stop what he was doing and go in the house until they had passed.

And once at the cinema, he folded his new trench coat over the back of the seat in front of him - which was unoccupied, and most of the cinema was empty. However a couple came along the row in front of him and sat down, and before he could lift up his coat the woman settled back and somehow got her hair stuck or wrapped round one of the coat buttons. He was so mortified that he just got up and left the coat!

Douglas Adams had a whole little section about this in the Meaning of Liff

http://meaningofliff.free.fr/definition.php3?word=Corriearklet&lang=en

Love this thread OP😂 I can relate to so many responses !
I would include for me walking down the aisle of a train looking for reserved seat and then finding it occupied and not wanting to cause a scene by moving the occupant especially if my journey isn’t that long .Similarly walking down the aisle of a plane and searching for seat and then looking for corresponding overhead locker. Painful ! 😅

Work colleagues asking 'how are you' every single sodding day. Just say hello and leave it at that! I can't cope with trying to answer it every single time

Just reply in the great northern style with Aye, not too bad, you? They then say 'yeah, same. Then go about your day.

When the butcher delivers my meat order I find it so awkward - it was ok when the dining table was by the window and I could see him coming but it just feels really odd for him to be delivering my food like I am too good to fetch it myself. He's in the next town from us so for me to collect it would require 2 bus trips each way and carrying home two really heavy bags. So I have taken to leaving the cool bag on the bottom step (our front door is upstairs) and messaging the shop to say I have to pop out so it will be safe in the bag for 10 minutes (can't see it from the road).

I also hate to have groceries delivered so only do it when DD is staying so she can deal with it!

If I'm on a bus and someone accidentally rings the bell, the driver stops and no one gets off. For some reason I find this totally awkward!!

oh walking into a restaurant or bar to meet someone and having to look around to find the,. I apparently forget in that moment what any friend or relative has ever looked like.