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 ...

Being in the car with my boss when we go to a conference or something. He knows I like music so will often say 'Oh listen to this and tell me if you like it'. I then don't know what to do with myself while listening to it: tap my hands in time, close my eyes thoughtfully, nod? I hate it. Then what to say about it without him thinking that I'm negatively judging his choices.

Also, when we have a speaker at work and they ask if anyone has any questions. I always feel highly embarrassed and responsible if no-one asks anything.

Mumindespair
Ringing my bank requires ' voice command ' for some of the answers and it's always wrong ! I clearly don't have the right voice or maybe mumble too much?
I end up having to speak to a human. Drives me mad.

When I was 50 I walked into the staff room at work and everyone was there singing happy birthday. They had decorated the room and had a wee buffet on the table with a cake. It was so lovely of them and I did all the right things, but secretly, I was dying inside. I hate being the centre of attention. 😂

Also opening and replying to messages. You don't want to look too keen by opening it the second it arrives so then you actively start to avoid WhatsApp. When you do eventually open it you can't be bothered to reply and then accidentally forget about it until it's reached that awkward phase of sitting there too long. Please tell me it isn't just me??

Ive had the situation before where someone has been in our seats and I’ve been too polite to move them so have sat elsewhere to then be moved on because I was in someone’s seat. Mortifying!!

Extra cringe when someone stops and tells me my laces are undone, usually when I've clocked it and am just looking for a suitable place to stop and tie them. It's kindly meant but makes me feel like a child!

I was just thinking this, it's usually older people who say your lace is out dear like you are 8 years old 😆

When I went on Maternity leave I had similar. Someone told me to go into such a such room and I knew something was going to happen. Everyone was in there and I had to open presents in front of them and someone made a speech (well the big boss) I smiled and laughed and thanked everyone etc but god it was excruciating.

This thread has cheered me up no end. I've thought of a load more.

Avoiding eye contact with the dentist while he is digging in your mouth so you try not to breath at all and stare at a fixed spot on the wall. See also, opticians. I get very very self conscious about breathing when in relatively close confines with strangers. Am I loud? Do I smell? I take in just enough oxygen to not drop dead.

Anything to do with names. At all. Ever. Even if I KNOW your name I'm convinced I'm going to say it wrong.

Theatre and musicals as per pp. Especially those Cbeebies panto specials. They give me such 2nd hand cringe and I don't know why.

Overtaking elderly people or people on crutches. I have to pretend that I haven't just been walking at breakneck speed and I generally slow to half their speed, maybe even stop and look at my phone or the surroundings, so it's clear I'm REALLY NOT IN A RUSH as I don't want to make them uncomfortable.

Intrusive (but necessary) antenatal questions. "Any drugs?" Obviously a genuine vehement NO but it feels like inside what we really know is the answer is "Well I used to go mad on coke and pills in my uni days, but that was nearly 20 years ago so we're not going to talk about that now"

When someone pulls in slightly to let you pass when you're both driving, and you let on to say thanks, except sometimes I just let on to virtually everyone coming towards me in case I've got it wrong (lots of parked cars on our estate)

There was so many work related ones but luckily wfh now. Contender for top: long corridor with multiple doors and people hold the door open for people but it's just that Little bit of a long walk so everyone does the little rushing walk, and all the repeated thank yous with each door.

Trying to act normal in meetings. I generally adopt my listening pose then completely zone out.

When Jane McDonald sings at the end of any cruise episode! I cringe so badly. Just stop Jane! No more singing! And let’s not even mention Susan Colman 😳

My most awkward thing is the school gate.
I am fine in every social situation except this one. I hate it. What to say, how much to say, how to say it. I just freeze and probably seem really unsociable and weird and fumble my words when spoken to. I actually have a job where I have to present to large groups of people and meet clients but at the scbool gate I am a mess.

Thought of one more, tv show I've been watching lately the presenter is VERY huggy, which is lovely and all the people who go on the show seem to also love it, but I've started to get this weird 2nd hand embarrassment thinking what if this person isn't a huggy person and cringing on their behalf. Why do I massively overthink these things 😂

Stacey Solomon is the huggy sort
.
I'd be awful on her programme , I'd be like standing away from her in case she tried ' the hug' on me 😆

I love her and think she can just about pull it off as she seems very self deprecating about her own awkwardness 😂 but she is definitely one for alot of hugs!

I have two friends who are not ' the huggy' types and it's great!

I love it too ha and when leaving family gatherings il be holding the baby as a kind of cute blocker and give a very general bye everyone to the whole room then scarper, instead of doing the excruciating thing of giving each and every individual a goodbye hug 😂

Walking past lots of stationary traffic! I suddenly become so self aware that I feel I begin to walk strangely! This especially happens if I’m wearing flat sandals, feel like I’m walking through mud. Quite bizarre I am.

It's even better when pedestrian and driver accidentally make eye contact and you think "Did she just give me a funny look or is that just her face? And is she thinking the same thing about me?"

My friend once gave me a hamper of goodies for my birthday. There were literally around 20 little presents in there and it was so sweet of her but opening them in front of her & then trying to find new adjectives for each one became quite painful. Same as when said friend showed me her holiday photos, there were around 100 plus, and a lot of them were pretty much the same shot!

Yes to this! Which reminds me, making eye contact with a person in the mirror at the hairdressers!

A lot of these stories would make a good comedy sketch !
' the ones who feel awkward about just about every thing! ' 😆

Wrapping up a phone call. I never know what to say, usually end up with an awkward 'well, suppose I best get on' but it just feels excruciating to me every time amd im left wondering if they think i was rude. Only with personal calls though, I'm fine with business calls!

Going into a shop wearing clothes from that shop, especially if recently bought so the clothes are still available to buy.

The sound of a drink being poured in movies/TV shows. It somehow feels too intimate 😂