Love, Auntie Blog
  • HOME SWEET HOME
  • About
  • Blog
  • CATEGORIES
  • TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF USE
  • ADULTING & ENCOURAGEMENT
  • ADULTING & ANXIETY
  • ADULTING & CHILDREN
  • ADULTING & STYLE
  • HOME SWEET HOME
  • About
  • Blog
  • CATEGORIES
  • TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF USE
  • ADULTING & ENCOURAGEMENT
  • ADULTING & ANXIETY
  • ADULTING & CHILDREN
  • ADULTING & STYLE
Picture

Aging: Doing The Very Things That Annoy Us...

8/26/2019

38 Comments

 
Picture
I’ve had to drink a big ole cup of truth about myself. Those things other people do that annoy me? I do as well.

ARGH. Why?

This horrible realization was made VERY clear to me the other day when I answered my door to pick up a delivery. As an American who lives in the United Kingdom, I hear the accents all day long, especially the word “Brilliant!” When I took the item from the gal doing the delivery, I was extremely pleased, and I said the first thing that popped into my mind: “It’s brilliant!”

I closed the door and I groaned inwardly. Seriously Gina? All I could think of was the Friends episode where Monica and Rachel’s American pal comes back from England and annoys them all with her overly exaggerated/fake English accent. I know people in real life like her. I’ve been known to judge people like her.

So, I defended myself, to myself (a little weird, I know). Why did I say that word?

I really think it’s because I hear it so often. I think also because I’ve noticed my English neighbors don’t use the same small talk words that I use, so I feel self-conscious and try to blend in and borrow their words.  I wasn’t just suddenly ‘fancying’ myself British while making an embarrassing attempt at a British accent.
​
As I’ve gotten older, I’m less judgmental, but apparently a little of it is still alive and well and doing the tango. Unfortunately, it takes my own mishaps to help me understand why people do what they do - AND even more humbling, the very things that annoy the living daylights out of me. 
Picture
LOVE, AUNTIE
What about you?
​Let me know your thoughts in the comment section below.
I love hearing from you!
38 Comments
Ana link
8/30/2019 06:25:52 am

Love this! I've caught myself saying things I would cringe at coming from someone else. I think it's a little self-sabotage to keep us humble ;)

Reply
Gina (Love, Auntie) link
8/30/2019 06:44:31 am

Love this: "self sabotage to keep us humble"!!! Great way to phrase it!!! ha ha!

Reply
Jessie link
8/30/2019 06:29:13 am

Great post! I found myself saying “hella” when I lived in Northern California, now I hear that word and want to snack people in the face lol

Reply
Gina (Love, Auntie) link
8/30/2019 06:45:39 am

Bahahaha! That's a new one to me! I've never heard that one before! Thanks for sharing :)

Reply
Sunshine | merakimusings.org link
8/30/2019 06:51:17 am

I love the FRIENDS reference here! Great post.

Reply
Gina (Love, Auntie) link
8/30/2019 07:11:03 am

Thanks, Sunshine! I appreciate your comment!

Reply
Alyssa (Click Happy Mom) link
8/30/2019 07:38:32 am

Haha! I love this. When I went to college, I went to a completely different state. Everyone told me I had a country accent. I started trying to blend in myself, but it was too hard. The country still came out! Now I own it!

Reply
Gina (Love, Auntie) link
8/30/2019 11:32:08 am

Alyssa that is fantastic!

Reply
Erica (The Prepping Wife) link
8/30/2019 07:56:14 am

I had to giggle at this post. When we hear something often enough, it becomes second nature to say it. I catch myself on September 1st saying "September 1st is the start of the Christmas season!" because a friend would say it all the time, and then make me listen to Christmas music literally starting on September 1st. My husband would complain about holiday stuff being in the store too early (I agree with this) and I would catch myself saying it even though I agreed with him, and it was just the simple fact I'd heard my buddy say September 1st is the start of the Christmas season often enough that I picked up on it too. That one still annoys me. Lol. It's kind of interesting and funny how we as humans end up mimicking others. Same goes with a yawn. We always say it is contagious, but it is for the exact same reason. We tend to mimic what we see and hear.

Reply
Gina (Love, Auntie) link
8/30/2019 11:34:08 am

Erica, that's hilarious. I do understand her love of Christmas music, although in my opinion September is definitely on the early side!

Reply
Despite Pain link
8/30/2019 08:55:09 am

Oh, I say 'brilliant' all the time. I mean ALL THE TIME. I'm Scottish and the word is used up here a lot. In fact, some parts of Scotland (Glasgow area) have an expression, 'pure dead brilliant'. I don't think I say that, but I must listen to myself. It is funny how we pick up words and phrases.

Reply
Gina (Love, Auntie) link
8/30/2019 11:35:37 am

Okay - "pure dead brilliant" - I'm loving it! I'll have to keep my ears posted for it.

Reply
Diamond Kelley link
8/30/2019 09:15:55 am

What a funny post! I like how you mentioned doing the things that annoy you have humbled you since it allows you to understand why people do it. I annoy myself all the time imitating people's accents or tones of voice to "fit in"!

Reply
Gina (Love, Auntie) link
8/30/2019 11:36:34 am

I'm so glad I'm not the only one!!! ha ha! Thanks for dropping a note!

Reply
Kayleigh link
8/30/2019 10:15:17 am

The same thing happened to me after spending some time living in Eastern Canada. I'm from western Canada, but the accent difference between east and west is huge. Like, saying things like "ruf" instead of rOOf, "delish" instead of "delicous," and a few other eastern-Canada phrases. I got some strange looks when I came back home!

Reply
Gina (Love, Auntie) link
8/30/2019 11:38:50 am

Kayleigh, I'm not from Canada, but I do say "delish" - I wonder if that's where it originated from and then trickled over to other countries? So interesting! Thanks for sharing!

Reply
Laura link
8/30/2019 10:39:58 am

Love it! It’s so so true! And that moment when you catch yourself. Goes to show we’re all doing things unconsciously that we don’t intend... good reminder to give ourselves and others a bit of extra grace.

Reply
Gina (Love, Auntie) link
8/30/2019 12:08:22 pm

Laura - oh so true. We all could use more grace in our lives! Thanks for commenting!

Reply
Smita link
8/30/2019 12:52:38 pm

So relatable! I've caught myself a few times speaking a little differently when I'm working with colleagues from a different country or even after I've binge watched some series! I love your writing - the little things in life and your humorous take on them. :)

Reply
Gina (Love, Auntie) link
8/31/2019 12:55:43 am

Smita - I do the same thing too!!! I guess that's why some people say it's super helpful to watch TV when learning another language!!! Thanks for your your comment :)

Reply
Trish Veltman link
8/31/2019 12:55:05 am

This really made me laugh (ruefully, in acknowledgement, as well as hilarity!)

Reply
Gina (Love, Auntie) link
8/31/2019 01:15:30 am

Thanks so much, Trish! I'm glad I'm not alone! :)

Reply
Nyxie link
8/31/2019 03:33:17 am

I'm constantly be-litting myself and making comments like this to myself. Its gotten to the point that I can't even catch myself anymore because it happens so often. But it's a learning curve, and any bad habit can be changed if we put in enough effort.

Reply
Gina (Love, Auntie) link
9/1/2019 04:14:31 am

Nyxie, you are so right! Thanks for your comment!

Reply
Kelly Martin
8/31/2019 03:41:22 am

This is great! I’m an Aussie and it always makes me laugh when Americans try to copy our accent, especially when they say G’day mate!

Reply
Gina (Love, Auntie) link
9/1/2019 04:11:59 am

Kelly, that's because you guys have such a great way of saying it! ha ha!

Reply
Norma link
8/31/2019 04:34:12 pm

Brilliant! A word I rarely use. The same thing happens to me with my kids. I highly dislike some of my kids expressions that they learn from their peers at school. When I am not thinking about it, I catch myself using those same words or expressions that I dislike such as 'basically' after every other word.

Reply
Gina (Love, Auntie) link
9/1/2019 04:13:42 am

Oh Norma, Isn't that the truth! When we hear something so often, it just slips out!!

Reply
Kippi link
9/1/2019 07:16:27 am

Brilliant observation! Just kidding I am an American too. I think that as we age we can let go of some ideas we had and start a new thought process that is kinder to ourselves. Be gentle to yourself and enjoy your stay in GB.
Happy travels,
Kippi

Reply
Gina (Love, Auntie) link
9/1/2019 07:20:59 am

Kippi, you are right. I was just realizing today how my thinking about things has changed so much. I really thought I new so much when I was younger :P ha!

Reply
Lindsay Brown
9/1/2019 08:15:37 am

I know that I catch myself doing things my mom used to do that annoyed me to no end. Like over exaggerating things and stuff liek that. When I was young it used to drive me nuts when she'd do that, and now all of the sudden I find myself doing it too!

I think it is natural to pick up terms and phrases from the community you are living in. I think it would be difficult not to!

Reply
Gina (Love, Auntie) link
9/2/2019 07:37:15 am

Yes! You are right. It's very natural! Thanks for the comment!

Reply
Snehal link
9/2/2019 05:36:45 am

What i really enjoy in your blog posts is honesty plus the subtle humor! 😃 I love it!

Reply
Gina (Love, Auntie) link
9/2/2019 07:37:50 am

Thanks! Appreciate your comment! :)

Reply
Subhashish Roy link
9/2/2019 06:54:32 am

I too tend to pick up on some lingo when traveling abroad for a longish holiday and invariably unconsciously start using it while I am there and even after I am back. Your post made me smile. Loved it.

Reply
Gina (Love, Auntie) link
9/2/2019 07:38:28 am

Thanks! I'm glad I'm not the only one :D!

Reply
Live Learn Better link
9/2/2019 07:26:20 am

This is beyond hilarious. I get caught in most of these sometimes and all I can say is that life goes on and just live one day at a time.

Reply
Gina (Love, Auntie) link
9/2/2019 07:39:53 am

Ha ha! Yes - life goes on. And I learn to laugh at myself! Thanks for your comment!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture

    Author: Gina

    Creator of Love, Auntie.
    Adulting (and aging in general) is hard, but we are in this together!

    More About Love, Auntie

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Pinterest:

    Instagram:

    Archives:

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017

    Categories:

    All
    Adulting & Anxiety
    Adulting & Children
    Adulting & Encouragement
    Adulting & Style

    RSS Feed

About LOVE, AUNTIE
Welcome! My blog is a journal of sorts as I seek what makes "older" worth celebrating in a world that tends to glorify "younger." I hope it's a place you will find encouragement and positive words.   
Read More...
​
​​​HOME SWEET HOME

ABOUT 
BLOG 
BLOG CATEGORIES
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF USE 

​© 2020 Love Auntie Blog
Proudly powered by Weebly