I'm sure, at one point or another, most of us become a victim to social awkwardness. It's inevitable. Life is weird, people are weird, some situations are weird, thus the birth of social awkwardness. Unfortunately, more often than not, I find myself in these uncomfortable, cringy moments. Whether it's being at a party and you lose the one person you know there and are forced to "mingle"(aka sit in a corner alone), or you just blatantly embarrass yourself, we all experiences our fair share of awkward moments. Here are my usuals, hopefully you can relate and we can be awkward together.
1. Hug or handshake?
Should I be super friendly and almost too touchy, or do I act like a businessman who just closed a deal? One will never know.
2. "Oh you weren't waving at me? okay"
We see someone waving, thinking it's at us only to be let down realizing it's meant for someone else. I have always wondered if the initial waver also felt awkward in this situation as well? Is it like a second-hand degree of awkwardness?
3. The Two Step
We've all done this one, there is no denying it. You go one way, they go the same way. This series of uncomfortable steps followed by a combination of "oh" "um" and "sorry" go on for a few seconds until the awkwardness gods feel you've had enough.
4. Fight Club
Whether you are with a couple who is fighting or you are at a friend's house and they are fighting with their parents, it's always awkward being the third party during a fighting match.
5. Accidental eye contact
This is the WORST. You are just driving along, minding your own business, while singing your heart out to Missy Elliott, and you look over and driver next you is just STARING. Honey, this ain't a free concert-you gotta go.
6. "But what do I do with my hands?"
When you physically feel so uncomfortable you lose all sense of normalcy and forget how to act like an actual member of society. Me all the time.
7. Waiter: "enjoy your meal" me: "you too"
Well, at least you're about to get food.
8. The Ole Cactus Legs
For me, this usually occurs when running late for class. You are forced to awkwardly squeeze between the narrow rows of the auditorium, frantically trying to find an open spot while scratching your innocent classmates with your unshaven, prickly legs, mumbling "sorry" under your breath. This one may be more of a reoccurring personal awkward moment, but hopefully some will relate so I can feel like less of an embarrassment.
9. The aggressive speed walk to the door
When someone kindly holds the door open for you, but you' re too far away and have to pull a Forest Gump. Very graceful, much casual.
10. The accidental hand touch
I'm just trying to hold your hand, okay? Let me love you.
11. The Social Media Stalker
You are 98 weeks deep in your crush's Instagram. You accidentally double tap. You're heart sinks, and you freeze, for you have fallen at the awkward moment of social media stalking. At least it can only go up from here, right?
12. The Messy Eater
Of course the one time (okay maybe not "one") you look like a damn pig at a slop trough, someone across the restaurant makes complete eye contact with you. The only thing you can do is wipe the grease off your face and just swallow your pride (along with your Big Mac and shake).
