So, It’s Not That Deep.

If you've spoken with me personally, you have definitely heard me say “we are all living the same life.” Now I genuinely believe this. I don’t think we realize how similar our thoughts are to one another. Earlier this week I found myself choking on NOTHING in the midst of class, I began chugging water like it was the first liquid I had seen after trudging through the dunes of the Sahara Desert. The embarrassment that followed this scandal was insane. I sat there reflecting on every life decision that had led me to this point…but why? Why was it that big of a deal? Why am I so embarrassed about coughing, in fact why do I find myself so embarrassed of EVERYTHING?? Now I know this is not a me problem. I have spoken with so many who struggle with this same thing. So why do we feel like this, and how can we handle it?
Let's dissect this coughing incident. What is it that makes us so embarrassed about these irrelevant situations? Is it because we feel judged? I mean if we are being so real, no one is gonna remember you had a tickle in your throat 30 seconds from now. Think about it this way…would YOU still be thinking about someone coughing 30 seconds later, if so…you NEED to get a hobby. If there was less judgment, there would be so much less embarrassment.
We need to start taking a second to ask ourselves, is this really that deep? Most of the time the answer is no, as teens we tend to blow things way out of proportion. We need to stop letting ourselves get SO embarrassed about things we can’t control, the things we love, or the things we say. If someone is judging you for any of these, it’s embarrassing for them not you. I also can promise you that you are not the only one feeling like this. One in every three teens deals with social anxiety. One in every three teens is ALSO embarrassed to cough in class. One in every three teens knows exactly what you're going through, and is there to support you. There is such power in relating to each other. There is such power in knowing that you have that community standing with you.
Stop letting embarrassment and shame eat up your teenage years because they are gonna go by way too fast. No one important is judging. So do whatever makes YOU feel good without bringing shame and embarrassment. Stop giving a shit, it’s not that deep. Remember, struggles are inevitable, but struggling in silence is not.

XOXO-Tara 🤍