Name Change

Orientation week, your freshman year of college is most likely the craziest week, socially, one will ever experience. There are jam packed activities, leadership meetings, hall meeting, dorm meetings, rule meetings, roommate "get to know each other" breakfasts, and so much more. Having just experienced this in the last couple months I am relieved to say that I survived and am past that point. Don't get me wrong it was a blast and I completely loved it, but just like any good situation there are some not so great experiences as well. As you already know I am a magnet to awkward situations, so you can imagine that this week which was full of hundreds of activities and thousands of strangers only increased the possibility for an awkward encounter. If I look back on that week the most frequent situation that I had to deal with was drawing a name blank. I know that there are people out there that can remember names as if they've known that person for millions of years but unfortunately I was not blessed with such a gift. That week I had to have met hundreds of people but after the first 75, the faces begin blending together, names start getting mumbled together and by person 122 you simply just don't even hear what they say their name is anymore.

It really isn't enjoyable when you run into a person weeks later that actually remembers your name, you search through your files of names and faces and you cant find a match, you feel obligated to know their name though because they remembered yours. So out of desperation you pull the one that your more than 70% sure is accurate and you wait with your fingers crossed to see if you get the "you got it right" face or " you got it wrong" face.

Up or Down??

I am 100 percent pro-hugs. I love them. They make you warm and smiley. Despite what most might think there are actual techniques to being a good hugger. It wouldn't be too far fetched to say that you can definitley rate hugs on a scale of 1 to 10. What is different about this particular scale though, is the fact that its not a scale of good to bad but a scale of good to extremely awkward. No one that I have met in my 18 years of living, has never encountered an awkward hug. We have all experienced them. There are many kinds of hugs that provide awkward encounters.We all know them, the ones that linger just a little too long, the overly enthusiastic hug from the person your not quite sure if you actually know, and the infamous last minute side hug. I have, of course, experience this wide variety on countless occassions. Lately in my life, the most recurring awkward hug is the hug between the person thats just enough shorter than you to make it quite interesting. You go in for the hug and naturally I go where I feel the most comfortable. If the person is taller than you then they wrap their arms around the top of you and you reach for the bottom. If you are taller than them they naturally reach for the bottom and you respond as usual. It is when they feel obligated to reach where you are suppose to be that it messes up the whole system.

When this happens you have the ability to save yourself , or if you are lacking entertainment for the day, making things a little more awkward.

To ensure the least amount of additional discomfort I suggest you follow these three steps:

1. Be on your toes, try and respond as quickly as possible

2. Once in the hug a quick one second squeeze will suffice, then release.

3. Dont let your discomfort show. End with a big smile, turn around, and walk away.

To add a some entertainment to your otherwise boring day I suggest the following:

1. Nothing is more awkward than ,while during your hug, you end up cheek to cheek, try it out youll see what im talking about.

2. Any squeeze longer than 7 seconds could get a little uncomfortable, especially if the huggee struggles with any lung or breathing issues.

3. When leaving the hug dont fully let go, place your hand on their shoulders, look them in the eye , smile and then say your goodbyes.

The next time you encounter the infamous awkward hug, whether you choose to make it uncomfortable or more graceful, just remember there will always be situations where life is awkward, but it is up to you what happens after the inescapable.

Lacking...

Defining words is truly a powerful art form. I mean, can you imagine what it would be like to be on the board of directors over at Merriam-Webster? Without professional "definers" there would be no depth to anything we ever said. Life would be incomplete as we know it. Luckily we have people who love such a responsibility. When you look up the word "awkward" in the dictionary, you get many definitions. As it applies to interactions with people, the definitions are mainly based around a lack of : skill, dexterity, grace, ease in movement, social graces, and manners. I would agree with these ideals, although I do believe that my day-to-day life might be a better example of what these "definers" are attempting to convey.

My life, as I have come to know it, has become a recurring sequence of awkward hugs, less than graceful interactions, and lingering moments that never seem to end. I am not sure how many of you have equally been blessed with this magnetic attraction to awkward situations, but as for me it is truly a daily occurence. I have learned to embrace these moments and smile at the fact that they are simply unavoidable as far as I am concerned. But maybe I will be able to help you avoid the awkward stare the next time you find yourself wondering if that person across the mall is actually waving at you.

Hopefully you will think of this blog and remember the few lessons I've attempted to teach you through my personal awkward interactions. Maybe just maybe, you might actually be able to live your life a little more graceful than mine. And if not then you shall learn how to embrace your inner Awkward Annie.