Geriatric OE

The weekly musing of a couple of Kiwis on their geriatric OE in The UK






Tuesday, 22 May 2012

More on shyness...


What was I writing about…Ah that’s right, shyness.
It’s such a debilitating thing to suffer from. Inside yourself you really do want to participate, but on the outside you’re frozen, and with what? Fear… fear of failing, fear of whet others might think, and worst of all fear of being made a fool of. That#s something I still dislike intensely. I even dislike movies where characters are made to look foolish.  I wonder where that came from.
And wanting to fit in. I’ll show yo how bad it was. I mentioned before that I went to Wellington Girls College. My mum sewed really well and made my vee necked summer tunic, it was worn over a  white short sleeved blouse.Somehow I noticed that the vee on mine was a bit deeper than the bought uniforms my class mates wore. My solution to that was to wear  my vee necked cardigan buttoned up. Even in the summer. Looking back it seems a bit pathetic really.
Something must have clicked later in the year though. Topping off our uniform was a pillbox hat with hat band of a gold and black stripes just like our ties.Towards the end of my last term someone pinched my hat band and I refused point blank to buy another. Strange that I swung between being bolshy to begin shy. Depending I think on the circumstances.
Did  grow out of it, probably, did it impact on my life, mot definitely. But I suppose I wouldn't be who I am without those early challenges. Of course challenges continue, that's part of life, now though I’m more than willing to step out of my comfort zone.  OK so my face might get a bit red and my heart will beat faster, but hey you know what at eh end of it I’m still breathing,and very likely feeling better and better about myself.    

1 comment:

  1. I know what you mean about handmade uniforms, i remember feeling the same about my summer tunic at high school too. Gee, must be in the genes.....you remember making it for me?

    ReplyDelete