 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.  LOVE, AUNTIE What about you?
Let me know your thoughts in the comment section below. I love hearing from you!
38 Comments
8/30/2019 06:44:31 am
Love this: "self sabotage to keep us humble"!!! Great way to phrase it!!! ha ha! 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 :) 8/30/2019 06:51:17 am
I love the FRIENDS reference here! Great post. 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! 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. 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! 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. 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. 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"! 8/30/2019 11:36:34 am
I'm so glad I'm not the only one!!! ha ha! Thanks for dropping a note! 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! 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! 8/30/2019 12:08:22 pm
Laura - oh so true. We all could use more grace in our lives! Thanks for commenting! 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 :) 8/31/2019 12:55:05 am
This really made me laugh (ruefully, in acknowledgement, as well as hilarity!)
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! 9/1/2019 04:11:59 am
Kelly, that's because you guys have such a great way of saying it! ha ha! 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. 9/1/2019 04:13:42 am
Oh Norma, Isn't that the truth! When we hear something so often, it just slips out!! 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!
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! 9/2/2019 07:37:15 am
Yes! You are right. It's very natural! Thanks for the comment! 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. 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. 9/2/2019 07:39:53 am
Ha ha! Yes - life goes on. And I learn to laugh at myself! Thanks for your comment! Leave a Reply. |
Author: GinaCreator of Love, Auntie. 
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