Everyone Does Silly Things
I gave a speech last week in which I shared a few of my own stories about the ridiculous things I've done when I've been too harried. I wore two different pairs of shoes to work---and didn't notice it until 4:00 in the afternoon. I blow-dried my toddler's clothes dry while she was wearing them when I realized the dryer hadn't done the whole job.  I drove my kid 20 miles to preschool without realizing she wasn't wearing any shoes.

My daughter is now a teenager and I saw her pressing her skirt using one of those flat irons that straighten hair. In true like mother-like daughter, she was wearing the skirt while using this make-shift ironing arrangement. I admired her creative problem solving!

I shared a few more stories. People laughed. But the most delightful part happened afterward when several people approached me to share their own stories about the things they've done when they were just a little too busy.

Dryers, Buttons, and Peanut Butter
Some of these stories had me laughing so hard tears ran down my face.  One woman went to work, and in late morning realized there was a lump in her waistband. Hanging over her waistband was a pair of her five year-old's panties stuck there from the last go-round in the dryer. She nonchalantly peeled them off and stuffed them into her pocket, hoping no one noticed.

A man said he'd once buttoned his shirt to his coat.  He wore it that way all morning, and didn't realize it until he went to the restroom and saw his rumpled, crooked suit and shirt in the mirror. He looked ridiculous.  And no one had said a word to him all day.

Another older woman confessed to the same different pairs of shoes story---but she said in her case, the shoes were vastly different, one had a heel about an inch higher.  All day she lurched around awkwardly.  It was very uncomfortable. Then she shared my favorite story of all.

This woman loved perfume. It was one of her little pleasures while raising several kids. One day at work she smelled peanut butter. She realized it was coming from her. From behind her ears. She touched behind her ears and realized instead of perfume, she'd put a dab of peanut butter behind her ears while making the kids' sandwiches!

Laugh at Yourself
Hearing these funny stories made me realize how we're all just trying to get by every day.  The people who told me their mishaps were relieved to hear that someone else had experienced a moment when they weren't, shall we say, at their best! I know I was relieved to hear I wasn' t alone in struggling to get out the door with all the store tags off my clothes and wearing matching shoes.

We all do these silly things. What struck me too was that in everyone's case, no one said a word to them. Are we really not noticing these things in each other?  Or are we too embarrassed to say something to our colleagues and friends, that hey, you have some kids underwear stuck to you?

Now that we know we we all have our moments, let's agree to speak up. Next time you see someone with a misplaced article of clothing stuck to them,  say something. Laugh. Tell them you've done something just like that yourself. And tell them your story. You'll both get a laugh out of it!


(Do you have your own story to tell? Post a comment or email me at brenda@liveyourbetterlife.com.  Let me know of other topics you'd like to read about)