The Tale of Embarrassing Choices: Why We Cringe at Our Past Selves

The Choices We Regret:

We’ve all been there. That dress you insisted on wearing as a teenager, even though everyone advised against it, and now you’re on a mission to delete every single photo of you flaunting it. Or that mohawk you proudly styled (and later avoided discussing). The tattoo you got on a whim—or worse, under the influence. Let’s not even mention the cringeworthy social media posts that pop up in "memories" to haunt us. Show me one person who hasn’t made an embarrassing choice, and I’ll show you someone who’s simply very good at hiding theirs.

Don’t be fooled by the perfectionists—those holier-than-thou types who act like they’ve never set a toe out of line. Chances are, they’ve racked up their fair share of blush-worthy moments but are just better at pretending they haven’t.

But why do we feel so embarrassed in hindsight when, at the moment, those decisions felt like the most brilliant, right choices ever? Does our brain shift gears as we age, or do we just become more mature (or at least, we hope we do)?

I think part of the answer lies in our sense of self at the time. When we’re making those choices, we’re utterly convinced we’re wise, clever, and perhaps even ahead of the curve. It’s humbling to look back and admit, “Well, that wasn’t the smartest move.” Maturity, or the lack thereof, also plays a role. And let’s not forget hormones—they’re often the invisible hand behind many questionable decisions.

Owning the Embarrassment

So, what do we do with these cringe-inducing memories? Should we just pretend they never happened, or is there another way to frame them? How about owning every single choice we’ve made—good, bad, or embarrassing—and viewing them as part of our growth? After all, mistakes are often the best teachers.

Does that justify everything? Maybe not. But it gives us permission to stop beating ourselves up. Life isn’t about perfection; it’s about learning, evolving, and occasionally laughing at how far we’ve come.

A New Perspective

Why does embarrassment sting so much? I think it’s because as we grow, the world around us evolves too. Trends change. The fashion statement, hairstyle, or behavior you thought was groundbreaking back then feels painfully outdated today.

There’s another layer, too: when we look back at our past choices, we’re seeing ourselves from a third-person perspective. At the time, we were the protagonist of our story, confidently making decisions in the moment. But hindsight offers the detachment of a spectator, and spectators always notice what protagonists miss.

On Writing and Babies

Speaking of perspectives, let me pivot for a moment. Writing this blog feels like an accomplishment in itself—my first post after a very long break. And the culprit? Babies.

If you’re a parent, you know exactly what I mean. Babies become the center of your universe, demanding every ounce of your time, energy, and attention. They don’t share—not with your laptop, not with your spouse, and definitely not with your sense of self.

Everyday tasks turn into battles against the clock. Cooking? You’ve got a narrow window to get food on the table. Showering? Better make it a 10-minute sprint while they wail outside the door. And writing? Forget it. Between diaper changes and answering the many demands of tiny humans, creativity takes a backseat.

So here I am, finally carving out a sliver of time to write—only to realize I’m rambling (blame the sleep deprivation!). But hey, parenting is its own kind of embarrassing at times, and you just have to roll with it.

Closing Thoughts

Embarrassment, I think, is less about the choices we made and more about how much we’ve changed since making them. It’s a reminder of our evolution, a sign that we’ve moved forward. And while it’s tempting to erase those moments from memory, maybe it’s better to embrace them as proof of how far we’ve come.

So here’s to all the embarrassing choices—past, present, and future. They’re what make us human, and honestly, life would be pretty boring without them.