Before I write about any stories (which I'm still thinking of one that's acceptable to recount), just some notes to expand on my resistance to do this topic at all. I get that some people can take classically "embarrassing" situations and laugh about them later on. But for me, I feel like even years after I can't do that. Yes, there can be some incidents where I can. Yet in general I think the feeling of shame always lingers and instead of laughing about it I internalize it and change my behavior. I think it's also the factor of associating the memory with anxiety that I can't separate. I remember some situations (like in 6th grade) where I would ruminate on something for months and just wish that I could be at a place years from then when I wouldn't care anymore. Things don't bother me to this degree anymore, but I think it still pushes it to be told to discuss it. ((writing this out makes me think that I should talk to someone about this....)) But anywhose, I just wanted some of you to hopefully understand better where I'm coming from. Reading Erin and Naoni's posts it helps me realize that embarrassing situations are usually way worse in the moment but actually not that bad (like no one will make fun of you for it if you told them). And when I think of my own situations I know they're not that bad, but I still prefer not to talk about them (another factor is that I have to trust the person and I've grown to feel like I can't trust anyone completely because they can leave your life like that...).
Hmmm now I guess I have to think of some moments. But I'll admit that whatever I put here will not even be within the top 10 moments I consider most embarrassing.
One thing I consider super embarrassing is falling in front of people. Not gonna write about that but just wanted to put it out there. Like Jason DeRulo falling at apparently every awards show
Alright I think I've thought of an embarrassing moment!
I (16f) was with my extended family at a Disney character breakfast. These breakfasts are like a buffet situation but Disney characters are going around so you can take pictures and such. I was having a nice time until two of your favorite chipmunks approached me and my cousin. Yes, my aggressors were Chip and Dale. Well the story goes that they really wanted me to be all friendly towards them, but I was not having it. I didn't want to take photos with them and pretend that I loved them. But the more that they tried to get into my face, the more I got upset and thus didn't want to interact with them more. I don't think I cried... but I just was mad and wanted them to leave me alone. They finally did leave though, but I wasn't so cheery afterwards.
This is embarrassing to me because sometimes I overreact and realize afterwards that I should've just stayed calm or whatever. Part of me remembers things will go smoother and be easier if I just did what people wanted but then the stubborn side of me intervened and decided I shouldn't have to put up with it. Dang, this sounds so dramatic... haha but really I was embarrassed about it because my family teased me afterwards and it was genuinely upsetting to me, but I had to act like it was ok. A lot of the moments I find embarrassing are those where I acted a certain way and think a lot about it afterwards.
So if this gives you a sense of the kind of stuff that embarrasses me, you'll see that it doesn't take much!
@aboni idk I just fall sometimes (like last time I remember it was in a store DOWN STAIRS but only Malika saw so I was less traumatized) @erin yep yep they (family) surely won’t. I forgot to add this but in the midst of all this my fam brought up this other story of my uncle doing kinda the same thing at a Disney character situation think except... he punched Winnie the Pooh 🤭 lol. And yeahhh the little stuff can be so mortifying 😭😭, @naoni yes I should’ve 😂 no but I really wouldn’t live that one down I think And I’m glad I may have opened up your scope a bit on the subject! What you said about it being…
I get the trust thing. for me it usually has less to do with people leaving (sometimes this plays a role in it too though) and more to do with the fact that when you tell people embarrassing things you're trusting people with something that made/makes you feel vulnerable. but like naoni said it's interesting to hear about what makes different people feel embarrassed
Hmmmm, your little intro is interesting. I never thought that embarrassing experiences could be different. Like for me, my embarrassing experiences are situational. But I guess from your embarrassing moments, they seem more personal/internal. Like you are revealing a “flaw” you have with other people that makes you feel exposed since you are very much a more private person. This post broaden my perspective of embarrassment and what constitutes as “embarrassing”. Anyyyyway, I like how you included Jason’s fall. How can such a smooth man can be so clumsy. And as for your actual story, it sounds pretty annoying. You should’ve punched chipmunks 💁🏾♀️
No, I (20f) totally get where you're coming from about not wanting to talk about/not being able to truly get past some embarrassing moments. Like with my story, I did find it extremely embarrassing at the time, but now I can talk about it and laugh, but I definitely have not completely moved on from some parts of that story and left stuff out bc I didn't want to talk about it. But I also chose that memory bc it worked as a story, when, to be honest my "most embarrassing memories" are often a lot smaller than that, just little moments where I said something that came out off-color or did something that I shouldn't have. But it's not…
Wait so when did you fall?