Rec | THINKING BEFORE YOU SPEAK

🙊

Knock on wood, but i feel like I've finally left the agonizing part of life when you realize that you've said something dumb immediately after you say it and so live in a perpetual state of cringing at yourself. When I was a teenager, I was blissfully ignorant that I'd said something dumb until hours to days later, so tended to have my moments of cringe late at night and all at once. In my early twenties, I spent my life in a constant state of embarrassment, trying to shove words back into my mouth as I realized a statement was tactless/offensive/mean/weird/etc. as I was saying it, and then needing to immediately apologize. Now, it feels like I'm able to recognize that it would be a bad idea to say something before I say it, and so am able to significantly reduce the amount of cringe in my life. Hopefully I can keep this up until I get dementia in my old age <3

@mere_kat

2d ago

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@jayBeee

I would like to add a counterpoint to this: Maybe there is a third function not included here, called, the Self-Conscious curve. Near the peak agony I was incredibly self conscious, and as I’ve gotten older, ive stopped caring so much of how I’m imagining other people perceive me. now I just do my thing and wear what I want. I still do the same level of dumb shit (maybe more?) but I’m less self conscious about it. I love saying dumb shit

2d ago

@mere_kat

@JAYBEEE That’s a great point, you’re so right that things start feeling like less of a big deal as you start focusing on just being your own person. I’m definitely still working on that one though lol

2d ago

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