Tuesday, April 1, 2014

This is awkward. Not you're awkward...I'm awkward. You're gorgeous. Wait, what?




One thing that has completely changed my life is humor. While growing up there were several times...daily that I would speak without thinking, do something that didn't fit into the social norms, or feel uncomfortable. These kind of experiences can be really horrible for self-esteem if I were to dwell on my embarrassing behavior. If I focused on the embarassment and stupidity of my actions I would mentally tear myself apart constantly. Luckily I have a fabulous Grandma! She always told me that if you can't laugh at yourself and your mistakes then you can't laugh at anyone else. Since I enjoy laughing I decided I had to learn to laugh at myself. This post is going to be primarily a chance for us to bond over my displays of human awkwardness! Get excited ‘cause I have some really good stories to tell y'all! 

I literally have hundreds of these stories, but I for the sake of your precious time will pick and choose just a few. Y'all may have even heard most of these, but they are worth remembering. Most embarrassing moments will be initially embarrassing, but with a good night’s sleep and a new perspective things don't seem to matter that much. The quote from Let it Go rings true with me. Elsa says, "It is funny how some distance makes everything seem small and the fears that once controlled me can't get to me at all!"  

It was the 1st grade and I was sitting in Mrs. F's room during music time. After a good lunch we all had come into to sing and I was enjoying myself immensely. I drank a great deal of water during lunchtime and I needed to go to the bathroom, but I didn't want to disrupt class so I had been holding it for a while.  Finally I knew that I had reached my limit (which I really knew quite well since my Dad would only stop the car for real emergencies on road trips and he had forced us to learn how to hold it) and raised my hand and requested to go to the restroom. Mrs. F told me to wait until class was over. I was a child that respected authority figures so I put my hand down and waited. A few minutes later I raised my hand again and declared my situation an emergency. She ignored me again and said that I needed to learn patience. I was pretty upset at this point and I knew that if she wouldn't let me go I would not be able to wait another 20 minutes until class was over. A few minutes later the inevitable happened. It was horrible and everyone giggled and screamed. I just sat there in utter embarrassment and anger. Mrs. F hustled me to the bathroom and left me while she called my Mother. Mom showed up in about 10 minutes. She gave me a big hug after I managed to tell her the story through the tears. She told me about how her slip fell down while she was trying to win bragging rights in handball. The boy she was playing against was really good and she was really giving him a run for his money when the slip that had been passed down through too many sisters fell down. We laughed and she gave me another hug. She reminded me that everyone is human and sometimes things just happen. I went back to class with a smile on my face and warmth in my heart. Mom would always love me! That day I recognized that my best friend would always be my Mom. She would never forsake me when I needed her and unlike my classmates, she would never laugh at me when I was feeling embarrassed. 

                               

When I had finally moved on to the high school and left the "awkward stage" behind, I was feeling pretty cool. My high school had one section for the upper classmen and another section across the street for the freshman. I had to cross the road to attend some advanced classes on the main campus. One class on the main campus was  A capella choir and we had a field trip to a competition in Baton Rouge. We weren't sure what time we would return home since everything depended upon how we did in the competition. My Mom gave me her cell phone to be able to call my sister to fetch me when I finally returned to Sulphur. All day I worried about that cell phone. If any phones went off during our performance we would be disqualified and if we interrupted another performance some points would be docked from our score. I was very careful until the end of the day when we drove back triumphant. My darling sister was there just as she said she would be when I spoke to her on the phone. I threw the phone in my backpack and hopped in the car. The next day while I was in my advanced geometry class a cell phone went off. It was loud too! I remember feeling really sorry for whoever had forgotten to turn off their phone, because at that time in my high school it meant immediate suspension for one day. Slowly I realized that the ringing was coming from my backpack and in a rush I remembered that I had never taken Mom's phone out of my bag. I dived into the bag and pulled out the ringing phone. My teacher looked at me and instantly my eyes began to water. The protests and tears of my classmates were no use, I was sent down to the principal. While waiting I sat down next to another rule breaker awaiting punishment. I looked over at the most terrifying person I had ever seen. He had big gauges in his ears, black nail polish, and a metal spiked belt. He looked over at me and said "This is your first time, isn't it?" 

      
                                                       (Found on fanpop.com) 

I nodded and tried, without success, to hold back my tears. After explaining everything to the principal through my tears and then to the principal of the freshman campus I was released and my suspension would begin the next day. I felt completely humiliated! I couldn't look anyone in the eye for fear that the tears I was holding back would over flow. I was terrified to tell my parents, who REALLY care about education and would not look lightly upon suspension. I knew my life would be over. Finally I had to face the music. I told my Mom the whole thing. She laughed...hard. I was shocked. A few hours later my Dad arrived home from work. I once again told the story expecting the worst. His face became really serious and he said "Make sure Trevor gets on the bus tomorrow, okay?" and then he broke out into a grin. 

This is one of my favorite experiences and a story my family tells to tumults of laughter. I also learned that suspension is pretty much the most ridiculous punishment ever. It is actually fun!

During the last few years I have worked as a custodian in the Marriott Center (basketball arena) at BYU. I get up at 5:30am and head out to clean the basketball locker rooms, ticket office, and pretty much everything else. One morning I was working with my friend Caitlin and we headed over to the Men's Basketball locker room. No one is ever in there but my boss always tells us to knock and yell before going into any room that might contain naked people. Being the wonderful worker that I am, I opened the door a smidge and sang loudly "custodial".  Without waiting for a response I walked in. To my astonishment the whole team was there getting dressed for early morning practice.

      
       
 I stood for what felt like forever until I realized that I was NOT supposed to be in there, but there wasn't an easy escape. I was pushing a cart full of cleaning products and the only way out was to go farther in and turn round or go backwards down the hall. So after what couldn't have been more than a few seconds I said, "sorry fellas" and I backed up the way I had come. Luckily no one was naked, but it was still pretty horrible!

Y'all life is weird! Don't beat yourself up for being human. Embrace the awkward moments and just love the humor that life brings! 

How do find the humor in your daily life?