Awkward

I read a friend's blog that inspired an idea. Today we over use the word awkward. In fact we, and when I say we I mean me as well, make everything awkward.

• Running into someone at the grocery store and you've forgotten their name - we leave saying it's awkward.
• Showing up to a party and not knowing very many people - we leave saying it's awkward.
• Hanging out with people and there is silence in the conversation - we leave saying it's awkward.
• Going to a movie by yourself - we never go because we would leave saying it's awkward.
• Eating by yourself at a restaurant - we leave saying it's awkward.
• A single who wants to ask another single out - will leave saying it's awkward.
• When women talk about the birthing process to people who have never experienced it - we leave saying...wait...that is kind of awkward.

Here's my thought, is it really that awkward? I kind of feel like we've invented this awkward feeling and placed it on things that are really not that awkward. It's kind of like when a really skinny girl blurts out that she's fat. She's not really fat but for some reason she has invented a distorted thought in her mind. Awkwardness can be like that. We make situations that much more awkward because of our distorted reality.
Here are some situations that would actually be awkward...

• Farting out loud in the middle of an important meeting at work - that's awkward.
• Having an ex boyfriend/girlfriend run up and kiss you in front of your spouse/new boyfriend or girlfriend - that's awkward.
• Giving a public speech and having your pants rip in a way that exposes your undergarments - that's awkward.
• Breastfeeding your baby in the hospital only to find out that you just fed someone else's baby (this happened on the TV show The Office) - that's awkward.
• Smacking a women on the butt because you think it's your spouse only to see her turn around and show you that she's a complete stranger - that's awkward.
• Seeing your parents make out passionately- that's awkward.
• Having to tell someone that you killed their dog because he drank a bottle of anti-freeze that you left out - that's awkward.

Now most of the situations above are from real life. They are awkward moments that I have experienced. Either because it happened to me or to someone I know.
The point is let's do away with the feeling of awkward when it's really not that awkward. We can make things worse when we declare that they are awkward. Instead just cowboy or cowgirl up and get through it. Don't let the distorted reality of a potentially awkward situation lead you to make the situation worse.

So what is an awkward moment that you have experienced?