I often feel like there’s a hanging booger in my nose. It’s annoying. I’m not sure if it’s a winter thing because I don’t recall feeling this way during the summer, but it feels like no matter what I do it comes right back.
I’m sitting at a bakery with my laptop and a smoked honey green tea (thanks Sin Bakery) which has been chilled for maybe over an hour. My glasses are weighing at the bridge of my nose as I always pause to rub on my left nostril.
The quirky things I think about when I’m in public often make me insecure. Honestly, it’s mostly the booger that may or may not be in my nose or wondering if my breath stinks.
So I wonder, why is it when your breath smells, that’s when people want to get in close to your face to talk. In these situations, I lower my head, in others I confess, “It feels like my breath stinks.” You might be wondering if people at least give me a Tic Tac or WinterFresh – not often.
The hard thing about these quirks is that you want to control them. You want to be aware, but you don’t want anyone else to call you out on them. I understand that I’m using “you” a lot, but if it doesn’t apply to you, then that’s cool.
In college, my roommate and I had an event we wanted to go to. I rolled out of bed and got dressed because I knew we’d be late if I’d do anything extra. When we got to the destination, I said hello to a few people like I was a superstar then we sat together in the back of the auditorium.
I don’t remember the talk, but I remember this:
Me: (Talking about a random topic with enthusiasm)
Her: (Leans into my ear) Kid, your breath smells!
Me: (Embarrassed as…) Aw man! Okay, do you have gum?
Her: No.
I may have snapped at her about not telling me that my breath smelled before I played social butterfly. How many people were searching frantically for oxygen after I met up with everyone? From that day on, I made a conscious decision to brush my teeth after a nap.
Kou T. Nyan 