Ironically, even spelling the word “awkward” is, well, awkward. It’s just one of the small annoyingly awkward things that we’ve all faced at some point in time—usually multiple times throughout a day.
They’re unavoidable. They’re consistently awkward. They’re part of everyday life. And fortunately—unfortunately?—we can all relate…awkwardly.
Bumping into someone at the grocery store and saying goodbye, only to see them in every single aisle after that.
Passing a slow driver and then getting stuck next to them at a red light where you have to pretend to busy yourself and avoid awkward eye contact.
When someone catches you accidentally staring at them…twice.
Watching a movie rated anything above PG with people you’re not that familiar with and having a steamy scene last a little too long.
When you see someone waving and think its directed to you and begin to wave back just to learn it was meant for the person behind you.
Giving an automatic reply, such as “You, too,” “Love ya, “ etc. in situations where it absolutely makes no sense.
Trying to hurry up and put your change back in your wallet while people are waiting in line behind you.
Having to go around the room and say something random about yourself while everyone sits there staring pretending to care.
Pushing on a pull door. There is always a witness.
When the dental hygienist continues to make small talk that you can’t reply to because her hand is stuffed in your mouth.
Crafting the perfect voicemail and then having someone actually pick up the phone.
When people show you a picture of a wrinkly newborn and they’re like, “Isn’t she/he cute?!?”
Putting a dirty plate in the sink when someone is doing the dishes.
When you run into someone you should probably acknowledge and talk to, but they’re talking to someone else and you have to stand there waiting for them to finish.
Thinking there is one more step than there is and taking a giant awkward step/fall over seemingly nothing.
Walking down a hallway, an aisle, etc.—and someone you know is coming towards you, but you don’t want to make eye contact too soon. But you don’t want to miss that window, so you look at them , quickly look away, then look up again a second later.
Being with a group of people or in a quiet room, taking a drink of water, and having it go down the wrong pipe causing you to launch into a spastic coughing fit.
Trying to walk past someone on a motorized scooter without looking like you’re trying to race them.
When something you’re wearing or sitting on makes a noise that sounds like it could’ve been a fart and then trying to cover it up so everyone knows it wasn’t a fart.
Being stuck in the break room with a coworker you don’t know that well and forcing small talk while you wait to use the microwave.
Talking on the phone and interrupting each other over and over, eventually ending up with dead air, and “no, you go ahead” back and forth.
Accidentally walking into the wrong bathroom, or walking into the right one and making incidental eye contact with someone through the crack of the stall door.
Asking a question, ignoring the answer and being too ashamed to ask again because they’ll know you weren’t paying attention the first time.
Running into someone you’ve met a few times, having them call you by name, and having no clue what their name is.
Making eye contact with the store employee while trying to refold a shirt and put it back on the shelf.
Standing there on the other end of the leash while you wait for your dog to do his “business,” and then waving at someone with the plastic bag full of dog poop in your hand.
Being left alone with a person you kind of know yet have no interest in getting to know better while the third mutual friend steps out of the room.
The complex decision-making process of figuring out the right time to go into the revolving door, and if there’s time to go in there with someone or wait it out.
Having the toilet clog or not flush anywhere other than at your own house and being forced to let someone know.
Say goodbye to somebody and then realizing that you’re both walking the same way at the same pace.
Going into a store and deciding not to buy anything and being paranoid the staff thinks you’re shoplifting.
What would you add to the list?
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P.S. For some reason the text with this post runs over onto the images on the right for a few people. I don’t know why because I’m not a freaking genius. However, I’ve found if you refresh the page, that weirdness goes away–not the weirdness of the post, but of the spacing.
