There are two kinds of awkward:

Good awkward, and bad awkward. 

I already know what you’re thinking: you don’t believe me. “Awkward is awkward,” you cry, “and that’s bad!”

I know. I used to think so, too.

Here’s the deal — stick with me for a couple of minutes and I’ll blow your mind.

We all know the bad kind of awkward.

Time slows. You’re trapped in a single moment that seems to go on forever. It’s the social equivalent of the sensation of wet socks. I’ve been there–we’ve all been there.

Let me give you an example from my own life.

I had a coworker ask me out… In front of his mom. Worst part was that he didn’t ask me flat out–he kept dancing around the topic. And since he wasn’t being flat out, I couldn’t flat out say no so we kept going back and forth in this weird grey area for, like, ten minutes. I don’t think he meant to be so indirect, but boy…that was awkward.

It’s not like that was the end of the world or anything, but I can’t think about it without cringing.

But I’ve found that situations like that–truly awkward near-disasters–are really not as common as the good kind of awkward.

The good kind of awkward is everywhere.

It’s kind of hard to see, since it sometimes camouflages as the Bad Awkward, but it’s worth noticing. It’s silly. 

Did you just accidentally catch someone’s gaze across the room and hold it for a little too long? That’s good awkward.

Did you just make an offhanded comment that makes absolutely no sense? That’s good awkward. 

Maybe it seems like this big, bad, horrible thing, but it’s not. It’s just human. And this might come as a shock to you, but humans aren’t perfect.

Say I were to never again wave off a friend, with her saying “goodnight, have a nice phone call with your family” and me responding with the classic “you too”?

Man, what a boring old life that would be.

Whenever I absolutely fumble basic eye contact, I find it hilarious. I’m overwhelmed with the thought of “oh my God I’m alive and I’m a person and I exist and isn’t that wonderful?”

Did I ever think an awkward situation would cause me to thank the Lord? No way. But here we are.

There’s this idea floating around that you have to be perfect.

Well, I say idea, but what I really mean is lie.

Truth is that you can’t always say the perfect thing, or act the perfect way, or have the perfect facial expression. You’re not a robot–you’re a person.

You’re trying. Sometimes, things just come out wrong or come across weird. That’s ok–that’s being human. You can’t be perfect, no matter how hard you might try.

So embrace the fact that you’re human. Small goofs happen every day–rejoice in those! You’re a human, and you’re alive.

You’re alive.

Isn’t that wonderful?

You know what won’t be awkward at all? Subscribing to my newsletter.