Even a Cheerleader Can Have a Booger
By: Ginger | May 29, 2009 | Category: General
While touring in China, my travel group went to the Great Wall of China. We'd been walking for awhile and had paused for a rest. I slung my backpack over a shoulder ready to tackle another incline, unaware that my backpack wasn't zipped. I trotted up to the top and stopped. I heard a commotion. A Chinese woman approached me gesturing and talking excitedly. She pointed back down the incline, and there were all of my underwear and spare bras littering the Great Wall (don't ask why I carry all of my underwear in my backpack... I am an enigma wrapped in a mystery). Some very helpful people quickly gathered up my big old granny panties/spare bras and brought them to me. I received each garment bowing and saying, “Namaste.” I know that isn't even Chinese, but it was the best I could do.
This story illustrates the type of things that have happened to me all of my life. All of the many, and I mean many, embarrassing moments I have endured in my life have taught me some valuable lessons that I think it is especially important for kids to hear:
- Everyone has embarrassing moments. The captain of the cheer-leading squad can have a booger hanging out of her nose. The high school football star can accidentally fart while exhaling into the tube during the lung capacity experiment in science class. I'm positive that even President Obama has had his share of “less than awesome” moments. You aren't in this alone!
- The embarrassing moment that you had today won't be your last. You will have other embarrassing moments in your life... we all will! It's just part of life. You need to learn to cope with these things when they happen.
- Learn to see the humor in the embarrassing events that happen to you. While no one wants embarrassing things to happen, you need to be able to laugh about it. Trust me, it takes the sting out of the humiliation.
- When someone around you has an embarrassing event, try to have some compassion. Either help, or give some comforting words, because tomorrow it could be you!
- Some people try to insulate or protect themselves from embarrassment by deliberately picking on others. They embarrass others to keep everyone laughing at someone else, so no one will laugh at them. Kids with good self-esteem and confidence have no need to bring someone else down.
A little bit of anxiety is normal, but some people suffer from a condition called “social phobia”. They can become so self-conscious and fearful of being embarrassed that they withdraw from normal life. Here are some resources that can help you to understand this disorder:
- NIMH's Social Phobia identifies symptoms and how to find help.
- FDA shares the story of a famous performer who suffered from social phobia.
- Medlineplus.gov discusses treatments and possible complications.
- Womenshealth.gov has a list of publications about the disorder.
- Anxieties Disorders Association of America presents true stories of people with social phobia.
Kids, don't let your fear of being embarrassed stop you from living a bold life. Have a good day and watch out for the falling bird poop!
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Best,
Anmol
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