Dear Miss Storybelle

How to Survive an Embarrassing Moment Without Changing Your Identity

"Dear Miss Storybelle,

I just waved back at someone who wasn’t waving at me. Can I legally change my name and start a new life?"

— Overwhelmed by Cringe

Dear Overwhelmed by Cringe,

Ah, yes. You’ve just experienced one of the most painfully universal human moments—right up there with calling your teacher “Mom” and trying to push a door that says “Pull.”

The good news? No one cares as much as you think they do. The bad news? You will personally think about this moment for the next 7-10 business days. (Possibly longer if your brain enjoys late-night reruns of embarrassing memories from the past 15 years.)

But before you pack your bags and assume a new identity in a small town where no one knows your shame, let me introduce you to The Art of Post-Cringe Recovery.

Step 1: The Immediate Aftermath

You have three survival options in the seconds following your accidental wave:

❤Act like it didn’t happen. Stand tall. Keep walking. If you exude confidence, people will assume you were just waving at an imaginary friend, an alternate dimension, or the concept of joy itself.

❤Own it. Smile, laugh, and say “Oops, thought you were waving at me! Haha!” Because let’s be honest—we’ve all done this. Even the Queen of England probably did this once.

❤Double Down. Commit to the wave. Wave even harder. Maybe throw in a thumbs-up or finger guns. Confuse them so much that they start questioning reality. (This is the most chaotic option, but sometimes chaos is the answer.)

Step 2: The Mental Replay (a.k.a. The Cringe Spiral)

Now that the incident is behind you, your brain will do what it does best: replay it on a loop while whispering, “Hey, remember that mortifying thing you did? Let’s think about it forever.”

To fight back against The Cringe Spiral, you must IMMEDIATELY:

❤Blast music. Preferably something loud and dramatic. Bonus points if you sing along like you’re performing at the Grammys.

❤Eat a snack. Your brain can’t be embarrassed if it’s busy enjoying a cookie. Science.

❤Think about medieval knights instead. This is my personal favorite strategy. Instead of cringing, picture a group of knights in full armor struggling to use modern escalators. Your brain will get distracted trying to figure out how Sir Lancelot would handle a Starbucks drive-thru. Problem solved.

Step 3: The Universal Truth About Embarrassment

Let me hit you with some cold, hard reality:

Nobody cares as much as you do.

I know, I know—it feels like that random stranger will remember this moment forever, but they won’t. They’re too busy worrying about their own embarrassing moments, like:

• Tripping in public and doing that awkward “did anyone see?” glance.

• Saying “You too!” when the waiter says “Enjoy your meal.”

• Accidentally liking an old Instagram photo from 2013.

We are all too busy being the main characters of our own internal soap operas to remember anyone else’s bloopers.

And if, by some small chance, they do remember? Great. You’ve just given them a funny story to tell. “I saw this person wave at absolutely no one today.” Boom. Instant joy. You’re out here making the world a brighter place with your awkwardness.

Step 4: Accept the Cringe, Become the Cringe

At the end of the day, the only way to truly defeat embarrassment is to embrace it.

Think about it: the funniest, most lovable people are the ones who own their awkwardness. Nobody likes someone who’s too cool for emotions. We like people who trip over their own feet, laugh about it, and keep going.

So, my dear Overwhelmed by Cringe, let this moment define you—but in a good way. Next time you embarrass yourself (because let’s be real, this won’t be the last time), laugh it off and keep moving.

And if all else fails? Fake an important phone call mid-wave. Works every time.

Waving supportively,

Miss Storybelle