Most peeps are ego-centric - your just a passing thought

Every walk into a place and get flushed with fear and anxiety that I'm not fitting into this situation (wrong clothes, wrong age, too many smart people, too tall, etc).  Or did you ever do something not perfect, feeling really bad and embarrassed (cant fit in that parallel park, toilet paper on shoe, food in teeth, mess up a presentation).

We get embarrassed, a natural human reaction in these situations. A little heart palpitation and the oh god I cant believe Im the pink elephant in the room. Everyones laughing at me not with me.

Most of don't like it if we stick out or if you are not doing the socially acceptable thing. There are some universal social acceptable things and we also acquire the perceptions from what we are taught in life (through teachers or experiences).  A few things will never be cool in public, ie: farting, making out excessively, picking your nose, being naked, etc.  But sometimes I'll get my friends from different countries, states, or family background say "you just dont do that in public" where I'm like who cares (I cant think of a good example :)).

If you purposely wear crazy stuff, ya know that pink hair will get a few looks well maybe not in Capitol Hill. But I am more concerned when people care too much what others think and being embarrassed can effect you more than it should.

Does it matter what people think of you? If you think, well yeah its kind of a big deal. Its how people treat you, befriend you, professional advancement, makes me feel better knowing if someone else thinks I'm a certain way.  We all have persona's to play into at some points. There is some truth in the pudding to it mattering but really its not what someone thinks of you, its what you think of you.

I was with a friend who cared so much what she looked like, that fitting into a certain scene made her flushed and ready to bounce. Who cares really - stick out and own it.  Caring that your outfit isnt right or your not the smartest tool in the current shed - confidence baby. I guess that's what a lot of things boil down to. And believe me, it aint easy.

It doesn't make sense putting your self worth in the hands of someone (or a group) who is most likely not worthy of that kind of judgement. And most people are not even thinking about you. If they do, its a passing thought, they don't remember or care about you.  People are mostly ego-centric, that world is rotating around them. Your not a big deal to them as hard as that is to swallow.

This reminds me of a little game of "would you rather"
- go to a party overdressed or under dressed
- be 4'0 feet tall or 7'7
- drink a cup of spoiled milk or pee your pants in public?
- publish your diary or make a movie on your most embarrassing moment?

Its hard to put yourself out there, to let things bounce off you; like water off a ducks back. Getting thick skin is a good thing to work on in life. Don't take yourself so seriously, and remember people forget things.

Its odd - sometimes we feel like we stick out like this little yellow duck. But sometimes all we want to do is stand out in a crowd, like the guy in red in the pic....