Some of my favourite recollections come at my own expense associated with embarrassment.
-The time I split the seam of my pants wide open at a mall and then getting caught changing my pants in my car in the lot
-Discovering my swim suit was on backwards after I got in a hotel hot tub, then unsuccessfully trying to change it before someone else got in
It seems that having a capacity for embarrassment is associated with caring about what people think of you and is that sign of low self esteem, or something that just makes you try harder to be your best version?
© 2026 – SoulSequel
6 responses to “Is embarrassment GOOD THING, or a BAD THING?”
Maybe the idea is to completely not give a shit about what others think. But the problem with that is if you truly don’t care, you might lapse into illegal activities because social order needs to be maintained. On the other hand, some social rules are crazy and at times to highlight the dysfunction of the present social order needs to be lampshaded by putting it on its head.
I learn to laugh at myself. When it is beyond your control, you just have to make the best of it.
One time in line at the Post Office with an important package to mail, I sneezed and my upper plate shot out of my mouth and landed in the Postal teller’s cage —— right between the teller and the customer. They both looked at the teeth that landed between them. Embarrassed beyond all embarrassment, I got out of the line and darted for the teller’s cage. I rescued my teeth, wiped them on my t-shirt, and popped them back in my mouth. My first thought was to grab up my important package and run for the door. However, the importance of that package made me go to the end of the line. There was laughter in the line and truly compassionate looks in my direction. The line took a vote and I was allowed to get back in line where I originally was. I was laughing along with the laughing line members and flashed them a big smile and thank-yous as I got back in line. I was glad that my friend — Nosratollah Moghaddam — had made my dentures fit so perfectly that I never have had to use any of that nasty adhesive paste. That would have been a gooey mess!!! My dentures flew out dry and wiping them on my t-shirt was just to get the cooties and dust from the teller’s cage off of them.
I often thank Nosratollah for making my teeth fit so nicely. He made them by hand in my brother’s kitchen, hardened with a kiln, and masterfully designed. He made my Mom a pair, as well. She treasures her dentures and tells family that Barbara’s friend “Rat Nose” made them for her. I got off topic, sorry….
I think that embarrassment humbles us. It is an emotion that causes us to look at ourselves in our human situation. Life sometimes throws us reasons to stop and laugh.
Like the day I was pulling on my clothing while talking to Immortal Pirate on the phone. I pulled my mom-jeans with the elastic waistband on and did not know that they were backwards. The big back pockets were in front on my belly, and the slanted front pockets were pointing to my ass. I went grocery shopping with my jeans on backwards.
People smiled at me and treated me so nicely. Other shoppers would reach for the things on the top shelves for me. There was so much compassion shown by the other shoppers and the clerks and cashier. The bag boy insisted on helping me get my groceries into my car. At home, my neighbor saw me and came right over with his daughter to ask me how I was feeling. He had his daughter carry in my groceries and help me put them away. When they left me, I stood on my porch thinking that everyone was so nice and cheerfully helping me, it must be a special day. I felt the world was being extra considerate. I was taking a moment to smile in thankfulness. Then my roommate came home. As she walked past me on the porch, she said, “You know that you have your pants on backwards, don’t you?”
That was my moment to break out in laughter and the giggles lasted all day. Everyone at the store, and my neighbor, must have thought that I was having a stroke, or “Senior Moment”. Being able to laugh at yourself is good for the soul.
I think it’s a good thing. I think that our embarrassing situations bring humor to our lives. Purposefully embarrassing others for one’s amusement – is not good though.
After the initial shock of the embarrassment, I think most look back on these times and laugh and even share their experience with others so that they can laugh about it too.
I wooden no.
It depends which side of the pants (or the bathing suit) you are on!
I remember my first experiment with buck [nekkid] survival camping in the Torrance Barrens area of Ontario. I returned from a trip farther afield than I had planned, to find a group of older lady bird watchers between me and my stash of clothing.
Well, embarrassment keeps me from relating any more of the story. Suffice it to say they got a wildlife viewing of a type they were not expecting!
And scarcely a year later this area was dedicated a refuge area, ” for the sake of preserving the unique Wildlife found there! I recognized two ofthe town council women from the newspaper photo, as two of the birdwatchers!
Oh, they’ve seen some wild bird out there, fer shure! My embarrassment can attest to that!
Still, I’m proud to have played my role in the “fleshing-out” of Ontario conservacy policy! It was a move that took a lot of balls.
(OK, I think I’m finished now!)
And I am glad to have one enduring place of youthful memories that I know they are not going to build a condo development or taco stand on.
i think it is about self esteem and how important other’s perception is to a person.
the other day we were all singing Happy Birthday to MisterEflKin at the beach. he was so happy but also feeling very shy and embarrassed, so was i, singing as loud as i could :D its like a good embarrassment.
vs the kind where we fall or do something we perceive as silly and feel horrible about it… (i Could feel embarrassed when the neighbour catches me talking to myself in the hallway or i can just laugh it off and accept that this is just a moment in time :D)