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 ...

We are probably the only people to apologise to the person who’s just crushed our foot or banged into us

I always used to feel awkward going to bank in case I acted shifty and they thought I was committing fraud 😂same with walking past security guards leaving a shop

That urge to open your bag or show your receipt to convince the guard you haven't shoplifted, even though they've barely registered your existence.

It's me I'm the other person! I cringe for the actors when it first starts but I calm down as the show progresses.

Oh yes!!

I always get this when trying to select a cucumber that hadn't already started going soft. I can't even write it without cringing!

Oh, and anything where the audience claps along. Turn inside out cringing. Times a hundred if I'm actually in the audience...

When someone bursts into song for no evident reason. At a kids Carol concert a mum behind me joined in with (I'm not sure if this is right) the harmony version. Worse when they produce a fucking guitar at a campsite and start strumming earnestly.

When children sing/act with fake American accents. This particular one will out me.

Oh God, now I feel awful, my husband is the bin wanker on our street! Well, to be fair, he doesn't dash straight out when the bin men are still there! But when he gets ours, he'll put the surrounding neighbours bins back. But then the lady opposite often brings ours back for us too, if my husband is at work! I think it's just neighbourly! And nice.
I've thought of another one, someone elses post reminded me. If I'm out alone and I'm walking, if I suddenly wonder if I'm walking "properly", I'll start to feel weird and then my feet do this weird flopping thing, like I've forgotten how to walk! And it's only ever outside, not in shops or supermarkets! I have to make a conscious effort to concentrate on walking! I have no idea what that's all about! 🤣
I've never had myself down as an awkward person, but having read this entire thread, I'm actually beginning to wonder if I've been masking it! I walked into Tesco the other day and had to bite my tongue so that I didn't stop and tell the security guard " I've just come in for some avocados and mushrooms, I'm not going to steal anything"! WTF is wrong with me?! 🤣

I still cringe at the time I asked for a quiche in a local bakery, lady behind the counter said ‘cold’ and I shivered and said very! She meant the quiche! Most embarrassing of all, I wasn’t even cold!

Sitting in a car.
I walk everywhere and probably get in a car 2-3 times a year, it always feels really weird and 'exotic' to me!😆

I'm like that about using any type of public transport as I normally either drive or walk everywhere 😂

When I left my job in 2001 they had a present and a card and the boss made a little speech and people looked at me, and then he kissed me. I still think about it in horror (and this is the main reason I am still freelancing, I couldn't go through that again)

I had a job many many years ago where I'd handed my notice in and my last day happened to be the day after boxing day. Hardly any staff in. Id got the train in on about 2 hours sleep after a very heavy boxing night. I'm there, just trying to not die until I can go home, then all of a sudden jumped out my skin as realised the entire office was behind me with a card and gift.

Also for my 30th, my then bf was an absolute wanker, completely spoilt the day for me, so upset over this that yet again I didnt notice the entire office had gathered around me with a card, lovely gift and a substantial cash collection. I burst into tears 😂

When I retired from teaching I knew there would be presentations, not just to me, in the Staff room so I didn't go in, got in my car and went home. Being the centre of attention is probably the only one of the hundreds of things mentioned in this thread, I almost feel I should have far more!

I think you were responding to my walking one up thread.

I can only liken it to feeling like I’ve suddenly put on a pair of flippers 🤣 that awkward walk into the sea.

I used to feel really sorry for Hellmans Mayonnaise as I thought their advertising was desperate and they must be doing really badly as a company. Sometimes I had to turn the tv over when an Ad came on.

Still buying it years later....

Exactly that! What the hell?! 🤣🤣🤣

When out on foot with the kids (all v young aka in pram or maddeningly slow) and drivers insist on us crossing a street first.

They're obviously just being considerate as I wrangle toddlers and a buggy. But it would be quicker for them and less stressful for me if they just nipped out and away. With result we will both remain stationary nodding, gesturing and grinning hysterically at each other ('oh no, you first, I insist!') for far longer than my embarrassment threshold can cope with!

when i catch a bus i am looking for the seat belt

So many on here I can relate to, but a big one for me is being the first driver at a set of temporary traffic lights. The anxiety I get. What if they are broken? What if the cars behind me start beeping? How long do I sit there before doing a U-turn and find another route?

Even when I'm behind the first driver at the lights, I always think what if the driver behind me beeps and the driver in front thinks it was me.

Oh my goodness. This happened to me once. There were some temporary traffic lights and they just wouldn't change. I was at the front and the damn thing just stayed red. I didn't know how long to leave it before just going ahead. I think I ended up waiting about 15 minutes, but it felt longer. There was only the occasional car coming the other way, so in the end I just took the risk and went for it. Luckily the road was clear. The other cars gingerly followed...

Eew! Poor you. That sounds super awkward.

Nightmare, poor you. I hate them and actively avoid them if I know there are some on a particular road. Just waiting 1 minute for them to change feels like eternity 🤣

Yes!

It's so hammy.

Passport control and customs.

I cannot go through either without feeling immensely awkward and guilty. Despite never having smuggled anything.

Then I also feel guilty that they might be focusing on me because I look so shifty that they might actually miss someone who is doing something underhand.

Its emotionally exhausting.