Emma Watson: "I feel like I've been given a lot of embarrassing moments. But I'm actually quite comfortable with them, so they don't really embarrass me anymore. It's part of my life."
I have had MANY embarrassing moments. Like the above quote, I have realized that those embarrassing moments have taught me to laugh at myself and are a part of my life.
So – sit back, enjoy, and laugh with me.
I was in my late 20s or early 30s. It was my lunch hour, and I decided to walk to KFC (which at that time was called Kentucky Fried Chicken). I had my lunch and went to the restroom before leaving. When I left the restaurant, someone was behind me, saying, “Ma’am, ma’am.” I did not respond because I didn’t think he was addressing me. I felt too young to be called “Ma’am.” The gentleman caught up with me outside and told me that my dress was caught in my pantyhose (Yes, in those days, I wore pantyhose to work!) If that wasn’t bad enough, I wore a shorter dress with a straight skirt. The dress was not only tucked into my pantyhose but the whole skirt was also pulled up to my waist. Remember, I walked to the restaurant, so I did not have a car to jump into. I walked back through the restaurant and into the restroom. As I was walking through the restaurant, I heard people laughing and snickering.
I am clumsy and tend to fall. In my 50s, I fell often, and it was embarrassing to show up at work or church with broken bones. One of my most embarrassing falls was at Taco Bell. The drive-through was packed, so I decided to go inside. I was in a hurry, so I wasn’t paying attention and must have tripped over the curb. Before I knew it, I was falling to the ground. The place was packed, and many people came to help me. I was blessed but couldn’t believe I had caused such a stir. People were calling 911 and asking me questions. I don’t remember how I answered those questions, but I remember people giggling. The story ends with a trip to Emergency, and because I had put my arm out to break my fall, I broke my elbow, which I had to have surgery on. I am blessed to have friends who helped me, but I must admit that I found it embarrassing and uncomfortable for them to take care of me.
When I was in junior high (I know it is called middle school now, but when I was in school, it was called junior high!) I modeled in a fashion show and tripped up the stairs. How many people do that? The majority of the people fall down the stairs!! As I tripped, the audience gasped, and then I pulled myself together and walked across the stage. I received a huge applause!
Finally, in high school, I went to Wendy’s with my family. I ordered the salad bar and made myself a delicious salad. I sat down at our table and pulled the whole salad onto my lap. I was wearing white pants and put Thousand Island dressing on my salad; therefore, my pants were stained. People at the tables around us were quietly laughing, and the worker who came to clean up the mess was smiling and trying not to laugh. My dad offered to get me something else or another salad. I was so embarrassed that I would not eat anything else. When we left the restaurant, I walked behind my dad, trying to block the mess on my pants.
As embarrassed as I was with these incidents, plus many more, I have learned to laugh at myself and move on with life.
Steps to Handle Embarrassing Moments
• Stay Calm: Take a deep breath and try to remain calm. Panicking will only make the situation worse.
• Acknowledge It: Admit that something embarrassing happened. Laugh it off if possible. Acknowledgment shows confidence and helps defuse the situation. (You may not be able to laugh in the moment, but as you disengage, learn to laugh!)
• Don’t Dwell on It: Accept that everyone makes mistakes and has embarrassing moments. Don’t let it consume your thoughts.
• Apologize if Necessary: If your embarrassment affected others, offer a sincere apology. Apologizing can help mend any awkwardness or discomfort. ( This is very hard to do but necessary. In this blog, I did not share any of the times I hurt someone. I have made inappropriate comments that have hurt others. I learned to apologize so we could both move on in our friendship.)
• Learn from It: Reflect on what happened and see if a lesson can be learned. Learning can help you avoid similar situations in the future. (I learned that now I must ensure my dress is not in my stockings before walking out of a restroom.)
• Focus on the Positive: Shift your attention to positive aspects of the situation or your day. Positive thinking can help you move on more quickly.
• Share the Experience: Sometimes, talking about it with friends or family can help you laugh it off and gain perspective. (I have found this VERY helpful)
• Use Humor: Joking about the situation can lighten the mood and show others that you’re not taking it too seriously.
• Practice Self-Compassion: Be kind to yourself. Remember that everyone has embarrassing moments, and they don’t define you. (This may be one of the most complicated steps to complete, but one of the most important.)
• Move On: Once you’ve addressed the situation, let it go and move on. Don’t let it impact your confidence or how you view yourself.
Remember that people are generally more focused on themselves than on your mistakes. Your embarrassing moment is likely not as big of a deal to others as it is to you.
Have a great week!!
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