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 ...

Talking to the hairdresser, while looking at my face talking to the hairdresser. There's nothing terrible about my face or talking but together, it's weird.

Oh I can relate so much to these. I have been known to do the front garden quite late in the day when it's almost, but not quite, dark.

Also regarding the independent coffee shops on the street where my office is. I feel like they think I'm cheating if I'm to be seen going to the other that day!

People touching me at work! It doesn't happen a lot and when it does I know it's meant kindly and usually from a woman my own age, so nothing creepy about it. But I still freeze a bit or go a bit red. I don't know why. I've always been like that. I'm very cuddly with my own family and very close friends but beyond that, not really

I changed hairdressers a while ago and felt as if I was having an affair 😂

I could relate to Nessa and Smithy in ' Gavin and Stacey ' with the ' no kissing ' thing
I hate kissing and hugging people , when did it become a thing ? 😆

When taxi drivers talk to you. Mate, stop it. Your job is to drive. My job is to sit in the back and pretend I'm not being driven by a complete stranger 😂
I was in London once for a meeting, got a cab to the station and by the time we'd gone from Waterloo to Euston I knew that guys inside leg measurement! Then I felt sorry for him, threw the money at him and let him keep £8 in change as a tip!
Fuck sake.

I hate using the phone and can’t bear to speak on the phone if other people are in the same room as me and can hear my awkwardness. I rehearse the whole conversation before ringing, get sweaty palms that I’ll dial a wrong number and don’t get me started on the awfulness that is leaving answerphone messages.
I have a WhatsApp group chat with two colleagues.They constantly leave voice notes but the thought of doing that brings me out in a cold sweat so I end up sending gigantically long messages instead!

I'm not fond of telephone calls, to be honest. Ugh, don't speak to me, text me.

I'm Gen X and think texting is the best invention 😅

My DH has a huge extended family of grandparents, aunts uncles cousins and their significant others.

Every time we get together there's always a requirement to kiss everyone hello and goodbye.

I HATE IT it's so awkward and it holds up our departure. I loved lockdown and social distancing because it spared me from the ridiculous reception line twice over

Im now tempted to get w badge that says no kiss pls thank you

Sitting at the hairdressers staring at myself looking like some kind of hideous lizard woman, is the stuff of nightmares.

Ds2 hates chatting to any cabbies.
(If they are silent he'll leave a good review of the company! )
I don't mind it myself , as long as it's only a bit of chit chat / weather type chat and I don't often use them anyway

Hugs and shaking hands.
Someone making me a cup of tea, it will be too strong and I have to force it down.
Talking to someone sitting next to me in case my breath smells.

Similar to this, I hate passing people when out on a walk. I live in the peak district so often go walking in popular spots and it seems to be the norm to give everyone you pass a cheery hello. I hate it and find it so cringe.

Gardening at the front of my house. I find it relaxing in the back garden but being in the front garden makes me feel awkward. Men walking by always make irritating comments or even stop their car to shout out some shit unsolicited gardening "advice". It's a nice enough neighbourhood but not one that strangers make small talk!

Another one is saying goodbye to wider family at events like weddings, larger parties etc. especially if it's relatives I don't see very often. This makes me feel super awkward.

When I go to places for a massage or pedicure and it's only one person, i.e. not a salon, I hate paying for the service. I would rather pay for it at the start as I'm worried I might forget to pay and the whole thing just seems so awkward. I don't have a problem at my hairdressers as there is a desk and till between me and her and that seems perfectly normal.

When someone phones into the radio station and theres a minute or so of small talk before they move on to the song choice / quiz / whatever. I find it so awkward, I have to change over.

Clapping

Am dram

Yes to opening presents - I remeber almost fainting with embarrassment at work once when we did a secret Santa and had to open our presents in front of one another. I think I had a panic attack 😂

I also hate walking past buskers and get really embarrassed and also get a weird feeling sometimes going to the toilet in the night in case someone grabs my ankles under the bed.

Oh and the worst - when the window cleaner comes. I hide from him.

I don't mind kissing and hugging but frequently seem to get the level of formality wrong. So I kiss people who then look surprised, go for a handshake when someone is trying to give me a kiss...etc 😱

Standing in the lift at work with colleagues I don't really know, but I know their name and they know mine. Do I smile, make small talk or just try and politely ignore them. I've been know to wait for the next lift rather than stand in awkward silence/making weird chit chat.

Oh I hate doing anything in the front when people walk past! Worst is when I'm washing the car and all the smart arse blokes say "come and do mine next!" Yeah alright, it's not like the past 10 blokes to walk past have said the same thing.. and it's never the women!

Seeing someone I know when I'm with other people I know. When yhe ppl I'm with don't know the other person I know. Not sure why that's awkward but it is.

I don't mind my hairdresser, but I agree it can be a weird old experience with anyone new
I've known my one a long time, so any pauses in conversation are not too bad.
I've been known to hide from the window cleaner too. Just pleased when they have gone
( it's not them , it is me !)