Blast from the past, most awkward situation ever.
I had to endure a long and very painful conversation with this person while forcing a smile the entire time.
My cheeks were aching at some stage.
Eventually I could say goodbye to this person by faking an emergency.
I was later told that I handled the situation quite well and was very nice to them.
This was news to me.
I thought my face betrayed my inner disgust and complete torment at seeing this person’s face in front of me.
Well, needless to say, I was quite proud of myself for being so utterly convincing.
But I was told that being nice to someone you dislike (intensely) doesn’t necessarily mean you are faking it, but merely that you are mature enough to handle the situation.
This also surprised me; I tend to have childish habits.
It does make one think though, I usually never missed an opportunity to make this person aware of my dislike toward them.
But now, years down the line, I was able to muster a smile, however hard it may have been by instructing the muscles in my cheeks to remain upwards.
But I honestly think I was faking it and that maturity had nothing to do with it, I was in a situation I could not get out of and, given the opportunity, I think I may have acted a wee bit differently.
So here is the million dollar question, if you are in an uncomfortable situation, is it really immature if you tell them you do not want to talk to them, or are you rude by saying that?
Are you mature by faking a smile and forcing a conversation?
I disagree.
I think that if you are able to tell someone directly what you think, it makes you that much more mature, because you aren’t being “agterbaks” as we Afrikaners would say.
So when saying, “Sorry, I’m really not all that fond of you and can’t talk now,” is classified as immature, I will be perfectly happy being described as childish and be on my merry way, rather than having to experience another awful encounter like that.
