Please tell me I’m not the only one.
We all have those completely ordinary situations that somehow make us panic far more than they should.
They’re not dangerous.
Nobody’s life is at risk.
Yet somehow, in the moment, your brain convinces you that this is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened in human history.
I have two.
And honestly, just thinking about the first one makes me cringe.
1. Walking Into a Public Toilet… At the Wrong Time
I don’t usually use public toilets.
If I’m out shopping, I’ll wait until I get home if I possibly can. But work is different.
I take a huge bottle of water to the office and spend the day reminding myself to stay hydrated. Some days I’ll drink two or even three litres, which means… a lot of trips to the bathroom.
Now here’s the situation I absolutely dread.
You walk into a toilet cubicle area, and someone has just left after committing a huge crime.
The evidence is… still very much present.
You know it wasn’t you.
The walls know it wasn’t you.
God knows it wasn’t you.
But the next person walking in?
They don’t.
It’s like someone has committed the crime of the century, fled the scene, and somehow you’re the prime suspect simply because you’re the one walking out as the next person walks in.
Immediately, your brain goes:
“Oh no… they’re going to think it was me!”
The last time this happened, I have never used a toilet so quickly in my life.
Normally, I’ll freshen up before leaving. I’ll check my makeup, top up my lip gloss and make sure everything still looks presentable.
Not that day.
I was out of there so fast you’d think someone had shouted,
“Fire!”
Looking back now, it’s ridiculous.
Even if someone did think it was me… so what?
It’s a toilet.
That’s literally what toilets are for.
Yet somehow, logic completely disappears in that moment.
And if you’ve ever been the person who left the crime scene while an innocent stranger accidentally got blamed…
You know exactly who you are.
😂
2. When the Shop Alarm Goes Off After You’ve Paid
This one genuinely makes me nervous.
You pay for your shopping.
Everything is fine.
You walk confidently towards the exit…
Then suddenly…
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
Your heart immediately drops.
Even when you’ve done absolutely nothing wrong.
This probably wouldn’t bother me quite as much if it weren’t for something I witnessed years ago.
Back when I lived in Manchester, a friend bought an item legitimately. The security tag hadn’t been removed at the till, and when she walked out, the alarm went off.
Security rushed after her, grabbed her bag and caused a really embarrassing scene before eventually realising she had actually paid for everything.
It was completely avoidable.
Ever since then, those alarms make me nervous.
Thankfully, nothing like that has ever happened to me.
But if the alarm ever does sound, my first thought isn’t,
“They’ll sort this out.”
It’s,
“Please let me have my receipt.”
So nowadays, I always collect it.
Even if I’ve only bought something for £2.
It’s such a simple habit, but it gives me peace of mind.
If there’s been a genuine mistake, you have proof immediately, and the whole situation becomes much easier to resolve.
Surely I’m Not Alone…
These aren’t life-changing problems.
They’re just those funny little moments that somehow make your anxiety work overtime.
I’d genuinely love to know…
What’s the everyday situation that makes you panic for absolutely no reason?
Please tell me I’m not the only one with these completely irrational public fears.
Have a lovely Friday!
Mine definitely isn’t going to be a restful one. I have far too much going on but I’m looking forward to catching up with you all again tomorrow.
With Love,
Ayo
⸻
If this post resonated with you, share it with one person stepping into something new this month. We have a 10k goal. Let’s make it happen.
You are so silly 😂🤣
ReplyDeleteI agree 😩
Delete