Things I Used to Be Embarrassed About Part 2

If you know me in real life, you know I love making it awkward. I’m not sure exactly why, but I thoroughly enjoy talking about the topics that make people uncomfortable. A partial reason is because I think so many of the ’embarrassing’ stuff is so important to get off your chest and experience. Not to mentions, it’s all inevitable. So today I’m bringing you Things I Used to Be Embarrassed About Part 2

A few years back, I posted another piece about things I used to be embarrassed about but now kind of embrace. I was hesitant to write that post, because the topics genuinely embarrassed the living hell out of me. But as I’ve grown, I’ve come to realize a lot of embarrassing situations are good and needed and even helpful.

So often the things we’re are bashful about are common and normal. In order to kick shame to the curb and start embracing our true selves, I wanted to write a part 2 to that piece. Keep reading for 5 more things that used to embarrass me but don’t any longer, mostly.

Going #NoMakeup

High school Jacqie would die if she saw present day Jacqie out in public with no makeup! Younger me thought it was a total embarrassment to be seen without makeup. One part of me was so insecure about my skin and any kind of imperfection. The other part thought no makeup would mean I wasn’t “put together.” But now?

Now I still have the tendency to constantly look “put together,” but mainly because I want to be taken seriously. But that’s a topic for another day. The reality of it is I don’t always have time to do a full face of makeup before I go to the grocery store. And sometimes I just don’t want to. Sometimes I want to give my skin a break and focus on skincare.

No one is going to judge you for foregoing makeup at the gym or at the bank or at the grocery store. And if they do, that has a lot more to do with them than your #NoMakeup self.

Talking About Money

I think everyone has been told at one point or another that money is a taboo topic. That money should be left out of relationships and conversation. But I don’t think that’s true. While I don’t necessarily suggest tweeting about your money woes and wins in detail, I don’t think you have to keep everything to yourself.

Growing up, I didn’t have as much money as my friends. And that meant missing out on activities and trips. During those years, I was embarrassed to ever bring money up. But now that we’re all young adults in the workforce, paying bills, I find it enlightening to have peers in similar situations to talk to.

Find a group of nonjudgmental and understanding people you can talk about money with. You can swap tips, struggles, and learn something too. Having friendships shouldn’t mean depleting your savings. If you’re transparent about your money situation to begin with, skipping out on plans because it’s out of your budget is a lot less awkward.

My Mental Health

I’ve been struggling with mental health issues for a decade, and in the beginning I was extremely embarrassed by that. I refused to take any of the recommended medication, refused to talk to anyone about it, even refused to let myself sleep. I thought that by submitting to any of those forms of help, I’d be admitting I was crazy or weak or broken. It wasn’t until I actually started talking to a therapist that I realized I wasn’t any of those things.

Why mental health is such a taboo, I don’t know. Maybe it’s because we oftentimes can’t see it, or maybe it’s because the historical representation of the “mentally insane” is embedded in us. But I do know ignorance is an opponent in a mental health game. Once I started being open about my anxiety and depression, I noticed vast improvements in myself, in my relationships, and in my daily life.

Vaginal Discharge

This is something I could talk about all day, but we’re going to stick with brevity.

Believe it or not, a lot of people, women included, have no clue about their vaginas. I highly credit this to the lack of talking about it from our health teachers during that reproductive chapter. Through middle school, high-school, and even the beginning of college, I was mortified every time I saw something wet in my underwear. And I totally thought I was abnormal and the only one. So I set out to learn about all that is vaginal discharge.

Then, I realized I was not the only one experiencing this. Everyone else was also too embarrassed to bring it up. And it’s 100% normal. Really, it’s pretty cool because it tells you all sorts of things about your body. Your vagina is self-cleaning, so some of that discharge is simply an output of the cleansing process. It can can tell you when you’re ovulating, if you’re aroused, and if you’re sick. Because it’s important to note there is normal AND abnormal discharge. If you think it’s weird or comes with itching or burning, see a doctor.

My Self-Help Book Obsession

Even while writing this, my mind flashes back to an episode of Sex & the City. You know the one. In the midst of divorce, Charlotte is terrified by the self-help isle and opts to order her books on Amazon. There’s a stigma around “self-help” books–if you read them, you’re looking for a quick fix for an “embarrassing” situation. But that’s now how I use them, or even why I read them.

I love the self-help genre, but I prefer to refer to them as “personal development books.” They cause me to interpret myself differently, make better and intentional decisions, improve and expand, and boost productivity and motivation. They’re also a good reminder that you’re rarely alone in your thinking. Some of my favorites right now are: Thinking Fast and Slow*, Mindset*, and Atomic Habits*.

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To quote myself and sign off for the day:

“Don’t feel the need to comment with all of your embarrassing topics, but do consider changing your attitude about them. Chances are, you aren’t the only one experiencing these things. Begin embracing them instead. It’s a heck of a lot easier and usually feels like a weight lifted.”

Read Part 1 here.

You may also be interested in these posts:

• Anxiety, Social Distancing, and the Pressure to be Productive
• Compliments That Aren’t About My Looks
• Where I Go When I Go MIA