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 ...

When going through temporary traffic lights eg. for minor roadworks, I always feel like I should thank the driver waiting at the other end.

I absolutely detest having to use the ticket QR code scanner things to get through the barrier to the train platform. I check 1000x I have the ticket up, ready to go, take my place and ... try to scan and it's gone off screen and I'm scanning a picture of me and my cat / some embarrassing Google search, and I'm panic clicking and folk behind me are tutting / pushing me aside / going to other barriers, then I get the ticket up but I'm scanning it wrong. All while my husband stands on the other side, having smugly scanned in 0.0001 seconds and sailed through, shaking his head. See also, the passport scanny thing. It HATES my passport. Or me. And then I have to go to the person who ultimately sees that I'm not a criminal. I'm just a clown.

Haha love the bus one. I get all stressed waiting for my stop and creep around from bar to bar nearly falling over 😵

I hate being hugged as well and as for a kiss - big no! I do like hugs and kisses from my family though, just from friends or strangers.

Hugs

My cleaner wants me out of her way! I sit on my bed while she does the lounge then i go and sit in there until she has finished. She does a brilliant job!

I struggle with when to say hello. If you’re both running, a nod is acceptable. If either party is walking a dog, a “hello” is mandatory. If someone is obviously ’going for a walk’ then you should say hello, but if they’re just walking to get somewhere then there are no pleasantries exchanged. It’s a minefield!

Haven't rtft but my 2 are

Going into a small shop.and realising you are the only person in there and then instantly feel like the only 2 options are to buy something that you probably don't want, or leave immediately.

Seeing someone you know in a supermarket (fine, exchange hi, or just smile) ....but then meet them multiple more times in every other aisle.... It's all kinds of awkward and then you don't know whether to acknowledge or ignore as saying hi 6 times in half an hour seems stupid!

Thanks for this thread. I feel way less weird now😆

Flushing the loo if somebody else is in the flat or I'm in somebody else's home (specially if it's a boy or man).
Idk why - there's just something ominous to me - it's like it's saying "I've just been sitting here dripping and wiping my private parts and you've been within earshot ......
Oh idk I'm weird ..

Great idea for a thread OP some of these have really made me laugh sorry! I love the PP joining in with her cleaner😂. I am pretty much totally ‘bomb proof’ when it comes to feeling awkward, I attribute this to my upbringing as the eldest I was always pushed into doing all sorts of things. I was always sent to the door to tell anyone wanting money that my Mam wasn’t in. I had to do the shopping and look after my siblings from quite a young age. I remember having to knock on a neighbour’s door and ask to ‘borrow’ 50p for the gas meter. Thanks Mr and Mrs G (RIP) for all the 50p’s you never got back. My DH on the other hand is probably the most easily embarrassed man I have ever known!

If anyone follows Very British Problems on social media, this is basically that on a thread.
Most of these resonate with me. I'd add to walking up stairs in front of someone, walking up stairs behind someone. In front I feel like I'm going too slowly/they've got my arse in their face, and behind I feel like I'm aggressively tailing them.

A v specific one: I go to a local cafe a lot and am on friendly terms with the two guys who run it. But if I walk past I do NOT look in and wave/say hi to them. I've been in there when other regulars have walked past and waved, and it looks perfectly normal and not odd at all, but the thought of me doing it makes me twitch.

Handling fruit to see how ripe it is before I buy it, in a supermarket.

I try not to bruise it for obvious reasons but many years ago a male shopper remarked “ooo you’re gentle” and I couldn’t help but feel there was a sexual implication to his comment. Now I HATE selecting avocados in front of an audience.

Oh you are still weird 😀

This has made me howl with laughter

I hate calling my DH by his name and I hate when he calls me by my name! I thought I was the only one like this! I don’t use people’s names in conversation at all ( I mean the person I’m talking to) My SIL punctuates every conversation with the persons name so ‘How are you today Daisy?’ I actually quite like it but I could never!

*Another with birthday cringe.
*I often hide or change direction if I see someone I know in town. Even if it's a close friend. No idea why.
*Waiting for my turn to order in a restaurant. Feels stressful for some reason.
*Coming back from holiday and the house feels weird. Generally back to normal the next day though.

People singing happy birthday to me.
Opening presents while everyone looks.
Poetry readings.

Contemporary dance performances.
Ballet dancers doing 'acting bits'( when the Queen is telling her son he must find a bride at the ball that's about to happen. Lots of facial expressions and pointing at wedding ring fingers). Makes my bum cheeks involuntarily clench.
People during religious events who close their eyes and raise their hands to 'the Lord'.
Parking when meeting a group, who are standing nearby and chatting. I immediately forget how to drive.
Test driving cars. If you trust me to go alone that's fine. If you're a man, and you are coming with me, I will immediately forget how to drive ( have been driving for 40 years)

I work at home and mercifully have a dedicated office, so I mostly just lurk in there.
But I sometimes have to do an awkward dancing-around-her thing if I want a cup of tea while she's in the kitchen or anywhere on my route to the kitchen. And massive over-apologising for walking on her recently mopped floor (like, why? It's actually MY floor...!)
If she walks past my office while I'm looking at my phone, instead of tapping away on my laptop, I feel guilty, like I'm slacking or something
And I also never know whether to say thank you when she empties my office bin. It is always very awkward when she sort of fishes it out from beside me, then puts it gently back (she's so sweet and tries very hard not to disturb me).

Walking past my car parked on the street. Absolutely hate it, will go the long way round to avoid it.

The theatre. When they come out and start acting right there in front of you. Embarrassing.

Walking home from the nursery drop-off with an empty pram. Feel I have to do a performative “Hahaha, forgot my baby!” dance to explain it.

When there is a new starter at work and they are taken from desk to desk to meet the team. I always run to the loo and speak to them later when I feel less like everyone is looking!

Unloading the trolley at the supermarket makes me panic. I never know where to put the trolley, what side to stand at, and feel that I am doing it wrong. Gets me all flustered.

Having an audience, such as opening gifts, getting on/off a bus, arriving at events.

Parents evening are awkward and nerve wracking, as are attending sports days.

Queueing is awkward as I’m standing too close to people I don’t know usually.

This is the same with me too! Hate opening pressies in front of people!

Two main things for me:

• When someone other than me is haggling. I can do it myself, but if I'm with someone else that's doing it, I have to walk away. I hate it and find it so cringy!

• Video whatsapp/facetime calls with people! No idea why but I find them really awkward and actively avoid them, even when it's kids saying thank you for Christmas/birthday presents, etc. I will, however, happily sit on a work Zoom call without any awkwardness!

It's definitely not just you OP! We all have a level of weirdness inside of us!

Bumping into my colleagues when they have their young DC with them. After cooing over photos I always feel some sort of engagement with the child is expected, and I'm really bad at it. Seeing the person I'm meeting at a distance and having to walk towards them. How long do you hold the 'there you are! So happy to see you' smile and how close do you get before you say hello?
Meeting up with people when I'm sporting a new 'look', hairstyle, clothes etc. So self conscious. My big boss making a joke. I always feel like one of the sycophants off the apprentice laughing at Lord Sugars poor humour, because Big Boss isn't very funny either.