Apologizing for nothing

Do you find yourself apologizing for certain things for almost no reason?

Truth. My standard apology is prepared for my affinity to country music. I grew up in a smallish, grass seed town where going to the rodeo on New Year's Eve was a big event. No joke. Don't get me wrong, not everyone in the city of 40k were farmers, but we had a taste of that lifestyle now and then.

The presets on my radio are set to country, pop, hip hop, and more country. Cd's and itunes? Pretty much the same. If I ever drive people somewhere who I'm not super close with, I find this bumbling mess of words falling out of my mouth trying to explain away the music selection while automatically turning the volume to 0 or switching it immediately to a more widely-accepted genre of music.

Last night I found myself apologizing and excusing my lack of knowledge on actors/actresses. I cringe inside every time someone asks "who was in that movie?" or "who sings this song?" GAH! I don't freaking know! I spat out "um, some famous people whom I should know their names, but don't. Um...oh yeah, the Tooly McTool from American Pie?" And finally it came to me, "Sean Patrick Scott!" To which he replied, "it's ok, you don't have to apologize for not knowing their names." Oh yes, yes I do.

Thank the heavens above, I remembered one of the actor's names. I'm really great on details and noticing the little stuff in life, but for some reason when it comes to people I have no interest in personally knowing, I can't remember their names. I mean, one hot actor/actress looks pretty much like the next. Yeah, maybe I should get my eyes fixed.

So why is it that sometimes we find ourselves apologizing for our little quirks that make us special? Like somehow those things are going to turn people away. I guess the moral of the story is, embrace your quirks. Because that's why people want to get to know you instead of the next Joe Shmoe. Holding back only closes people off from getting to know the real you.

Comments

KGreg said…
I once had a guy yell at me for apologizing so much, and it was all I could do not to say "I'm sorry." It's just a reflex for me. Half the time I don't even mean it. But yeah, a fondness for country music and a non-photographic memory for famous people are not things to be sorry about. :)
Anonymous said…
I also Always find myself explaining-away (aka rambling about...) why I like Country music. Not sure what it is about that genre, but I guess you said it, it's just not as "widely accepted". Some of it, yah, not so good. But it's catchy! And romantic :) aaaaand really fun to two-step to! Rodeo on New Year's Eve? I think that sounds like a great time.
Anonymous said…
I do this too and it's just so silly! Try to focus on not apologizing--and for heavens sake, don't apologize for apologizing too much! :D

PS Found you through the NaBloPoMo blogroll and will keep checking back.

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