I feel embarrassed... what do you think?

[Zagadka]

Good Morning Pulsers,

These days, after I'm done with my dreams diary, around 9:00 AM, I go into the woods behind my house. There's a little trail, a brook and a little bridge. It's cold here in January and I put my snowshoes and I walk a bit around. You don't meet people often around so I figured it would be a perfect place to meditate and sing mantras. My main goal is to project love in all directions... I speak, I may whistle and I do mantras and visualize my projections. I won't get into details, this isn't my concern. Well, you may have figured, but this morning I was totally into my singing that I didn't notice that people were coming my way. I was singing "Serenity for the world!" and an old woman begged me pardon to cross the bridge. I felt a rush of embarrassment and I said sorry and she crossed the bridge with her husband and their dog as I added "I know it may be strange, but I'm performing my little ritual". She said "No that's good". I had already planned what I would if it happened, but still I felt very uncomfortable, I tried to calm down, reassuring myself. I finished my ritual, still felt a bit shaky and returned home. I don't want to be labeled a freak... but I also want to be who I am, to do the things that makes me happy... this could be enough for me not to go back there. What would you do in my place? How would you react if you saw someone doing that while you took a walk in the woods? I need some thoughts on this! Thanks and I wish you a beautiful day!

[Stookie_]

I love it when I come across people who do out of the ordinary things... it puts a smile on my face. Like when I'm walking down the street and someone is coming the other direction with headphones in their ears and they're singing out loud, not caring who's listening. It makes some people upset or uncomfortable, like you're interfering with their world, but really you're breaking their ingrained expectations. Life does that all the time.

Take this girl... she doesn't have time for being self-conscious, she's got important stuff to do:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNYawF71tp4

[Szaxx]

She thought your ritual is a good thing to do.
This indicates an open person who has accepted your actions. Its probably your first encounter with others during your ritual. There was nothing to fear on her part. The lack of fear and not turning back shows this, your realisation of her passing by should have made your return home joyful.
I would have made a comment on my initial interpretation.
At least a 'please continue'.

[Ellis91]

Should you be embarrassed or should society?
If it was up to me many more people would be out in the woods at the crack of dawn chanting. 

[Fwewyu Tìomumä]

I know how you feel. When I make a mistake, and it only affects me, I think 'Ok, well I won't do that again' and then I try not to do it. But if something I do or say causes discomfort in others, it makes me feel physically sick to my stomach.

I've had a few moments like the one you've described, and I have felt slightly embarrassed, but I just remember that random people's opinions of me don't matter or affect me, and that seems to help with the embarrassment.

[desert-rat]

I dont think you need feel embarrassed , just know there may be others walking by . If I saw any one out in nature like this , I would leave them alone .  This guy was working a gold mining clame , miles from any one on rough 4X4 roads . He was taking a shower out side next to his camper .  This ladies horse riding club rode by , but he got to talk to them , and they whipped up some food at his camp site , so ever thing worked out fine .  ( from the G.P.A.A. mag. )   desert rat 

[Zagadka]

Take this girl... she doesn't have time for being self-conscious, she's got important stuff to do:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNYawF71tp4

Wow, I have a lot of admiration for people like her who are able to do such crazy things in public! This comfort me. Well, I suppose it's no big deal and I will continue to do my things, maybe I will just find a more calm spot, but I will definitely not turn back on who I am! It's just that I am very timid in nature. For example, I feel anxious to check my thread this morning! I need to push myself when it comes to interacting with others. I am always fascinated at the results! I want to my yoga class yesterday. I just started and I got to think how strange people who introducted yoga in Occident must have seemed before it became mainstream! As another way to project love, every day for about an hour, I write something about love. It can be anything really as long as it fills the world with delightful rays of love! Yesterday, I had no main idea and just want on with the inspiration of the moment. I decided to write "Bribes aimantes". My first language being French, it would translate as "Loving fragment". For some reason, inspiration flows poesy through me which I can't translate back in English. Here I will translate because I feel like sharing:

"I am within my inner garden. I am breathing on the sweet scent of the Infinita Amora. I began a chant: "Harmony! I vibrate out of harmony! You vibrate out of harmony! We in live in harmony! Joy! Joy in my eyes! Joy in your eyes! Joy in the eyes! Joy in Heaven! Serenity! Serenity for me! Serenity for you! Serenity for the world! Amora! Amora! Grand Amora Infinita for the monda!". Suddenly, I jump and I focus my gaze back into the physical world which was covered in a veil. There is an old woman, an old man and a dog staring at me with interrogations. My heart is pounding and I feel strongly embarrassed. I apologize and I say that it may seem strange, but I am merely performing my little ritual. The lady replies with a smile: "This is not strange at all! It is very well!  It is us who beg for your forgiveness for our interruption". And the old man continues: "Yes, indeed, you see, we felt the need to pass through here rather than elsewhere. It was as if a mysterious force encouraged us to follow this trail; and when we heard you singing, we immediately understood what was this force!". The dog began to bark to say: "Wouf! Love! Love!". I calmed down realizing they were good people who have a heart. "Well then! I thank you deeply, because, you see, sometimes I feel so strange in a much stranger world, and it fills me with joy to cross you on my path! May Love be with you and within anything you accomplish!" did I finally reply while smiling. Within the Silence, ours hearts joined in communion and we said good bye by faces crowned with light".

Well thank you guys for encouraging me to be who I am! I'm glad I asked advices! I wish you a lovely day!

[Chaki]

I think it's great. No need to feel embarrassed.

I care less about what other people think of me than I ever have, but I still have a long way to go. Not caring what others think about you means amazing personal freedom and increased happiness, in my opinion.

[newmethod]

i just have to say "i freaking LOVE this forum" 

[majour ka]

Brilliant !! More people should be out doing that ! I can understand you feeling a little embarrassed as I probably would to, but I love it seeing people not care what others think and find it very freeing and liberating. I've found people talking to themselves, singing, meditating on a Public beach, a bunch if people praying to the sun naked behined some rocks ! But all of it made me smile. Keep doing it !

[desert-rat]

On a side note , at a fitness center (gym) , I saw this guy sitting talking to him self , so I asked him if he was all rite .  He did this prayer before doing exercise .  Kind of like some people saying grace before eating , I dont think he felt any kind of embarrassement .  desert rat

[Astralzombie]

You would not want me to come across your path while you were doing this. I would have asked you so many questions that you would ave been annoyed and possibly a little freaked out.

But I'm a little jealous of people who do what they want and don't let others influence them negatively.

So please keep giving me a reason to be jealous.

[Zagadka]

I like open-minded people!

[Fairywindblues]

When I see someone do something weird, I smile, and I forget about it eventually.

Here's a secret: Everyone is too busy being self absorbed with themselves to pay too much mind to you. And, those who do spent their time obsessing over someone's mistake or holding it against them, are simply bullies.

Either way, you could have been out there singing Jesus Loves Me at the top of your lungs for anyone cared. This is your planet, too, and you have the right to do ANYTHING on it so long as you're not hurting others. 

[Bedeekin]

Here's a secret: Everyone is too busy being self absorbed with themselves to pay too much mind to you. And, those who do spent their time obsessing over someone's mistake or holding it against them, are simply bullies.

so true... and quite often the ones who do obsess over other's mistakes are only projecting it to mask their own mistakes or problems... like an ego band-aid.

When i see someone doing something weird.. I usually want to join them. 

[desert-rat]

You might put your mantra on a mp3 player , or burn it to a cd , then listen with head phones .  A lot people do this and no body seams to care .  If your mantra is the ohm , not ever one would understand .         desert rat 

[ChopstickFox]

When i see someone doing something weird.. I usually want to join them. 

Haha! Me too! Sometimes I join right in! I'm also guilty of purposely doing weird things just to see reactions from people...

Like going to the dollar store dressed as Nightcrawler.

I've been kicked out of a Walmart before for being in a costume. My favorite was when I was with a friend in butterfly wings and I was in dragon wings... an old lady got really excited and started talking to her husband. "Look, honey! It's an ANGEL! AN ANGEL!" then she saw me "Oh! And honey! Look! It's a BAT! A BAT!" haha!

A costume is a lot different from other things, though. There is some security along with it. I used to get really embarrassed when people would come across me singing. @_@ Now... meh, to hell with it, if I feel like it, I feel like it, darnit!

[Zagadka]

Lol a butterfly in the Wal Mart! You guys are weird... and I love it!

[ChopstickFox]

No no... Not a butterfly. An ANGEL! An ANGEL honey!

[Astralzombie]

Haha! Me too! Sometimes I join right in! I'm also guilty of purposely doing weird things just to see reactions from people...

Like going to the dollar store dressed as Nightcrawler.

I've been kicked out of a Walmart before for being in a costume. My favorite was when I was with a friend in butterfly wings and I was in dragon wings... an old lady got really excited and started talking to her husband. "Look, honey! It's an ANGEL! AN ANGEL!" then she saw me "Oh! And honey! Look! It's a BAT! A BAT!" haha!

A costume is a lot different from other things, though. There is some security along with it. I used to get really embarrassed when people would come across me singing. @_@ Now... meh, to hell with it, if I feel like it, I feel like it, darnit!

I would have stopped and asked you a hundred questions. Though, they would all be benign and just curious in nature, somewhere around question thirty, you would most likely start reaching for a can of pepper spray fearing I wouldn't stop asking questions.

[Lionheart]

 Because  MJ and I are vendors in Renaissance Faires we have to dress up in "period" attire. We enjoy it, but it's also one of the rules.

It's funny because we always go out to eat afterwards, mostly because we are on the road travelling and we never go back to the Hotel first to change. We normally join other couples as well, so there can be a pretty big group of us. People love it, they ask us questions and everything.

We love it when someone asks if there is a Renaissance Faire or something like that in town. We just look at them with a confused look on our face and say seriously "Not that I know of, why did you ask", lol?  

[Vindollaz]

It's been 2 months. You doing it again or what? If that was me, I would've gotten mad embarrassed and then move on. So what if you're labeled as a freak? Embrace it. You probably heard this lame advice a bunch of times but it's true.

[Barnowl]

Good Morning Pulsers,

These days, after I'm done with my dreams diary, around 9:00 AM, I go into the woods behind my house. There's a little trail, a brook and a little bridge. It's cold here in January and I put my snowshoes and I walk a bit around. You don't meet people often around so I figured it would be a perfect place to meditate and sing mantras. My main goal is to project love in all directions... I speak, I may whistle and I do mantras and visualize my projections. I won't get into details, this isn't my concern. Well, you may have figured, but this morning I was totally into my singing that I didn't notice that people were coming my way. I was singing "Serenity for the world!" and an old woman begged me pardon to cross the bridge. I felt a rush of embarrassment and I said sorry and she crossed the bridge with her husband and their dog as I added "I know it may be strange, but I'm performing my little ritual". She said "No that's good". I had already planned what I would if it happened, but still I felt very uncomfortable, I tried to calm down, reassuring myself. I finished my ritual, still felt a bit shaky and returned home. I don't want to be labeled a freak... but I also want to be who I am, to do the things that makes me happy... this could be enough for me not to go back there. What would you do in my place? How would you react if you saw someone doing that while you took a walk in the woods? I need some thoughts on this! Thanks and I wish you a beautiful day!

As far as I'm concerned, by what you described, you've done nothing wrong! No need to feel embarrassed at all. What is wrong with you singing anyway?

I live near a canal, and there are many walkers and cyclist. I will tell you now, (and I don't mean to be awful when I say this) but I would rather see someone singing and whistling a tune, then talking quite openly to their dog, even having a conversation. To me, that is borderline weird...

But singing, not a problem. You have every right to sing. Embarrassment is natural when the lady wanted to go accross the bridge, but she seemed fine about it afterwards (according to your description)

Nothing to worry about (don't get like me... it's me who worries about things like this...and when I mean worry, I go way past the embarrassment stage    )

[ChopstickFox]

I feel a little guilty when I start talking to my dog in English... I feel like I ought to be speaking Chinese.

[Barnowl]

I feel a little guilty when I start talking to my dog in English... I feel like I ought to be speaking Chinese.

Sorry...didn't mean to make you feel guilty