Have you ever tried laser hair removal? OMG. It was like signing up for medieval torture with a modern twist! Picture this: a fan blowing on me to keep my skin from sizzling. And YES, I mean the bikini area. Not just any bikini area, mind you—a French bikini. The technician was practically my new best friend, spending a good 15 minutes just an inch away from my most delicate parts while I squirmed, swore, and sweat buckets!

Every zap of the laser felt like a sharp elastic band snap right where you least want it. With each zap, I produced a drop of sweat and a fresh swear word. Action and reaction, right? Newton’s Third Law in full effect! Feeling awkward or confused yet? Welcome to my world! 😉

Now, here’s the kicker: I have no problem talking about this stuff. This is minor, really. I held back some details to keep things somewhat dignified for this post. But imagine me at a party, even with new acquaintances, and deciding this was the perfect time to share my ‘laser hair removal story.’ It usually comes out in response to someone sharing their own painful experience.

What happens next? Some people lean in, intrigued, others sit quietly, probably questioning my sanity.

Fast forward a few hours later, when I’m alone. You know what I’m doing? I’m dissecting the story. Sure, I shared a supportive tale about enduring pain, but did I really have to mention my French bikini laser hair removal? I could’ve talked about the time I broke my arm. Or better yet, said NOTHING. But no, I had to make everyone think about my crotch, lasers, swearing, and sweating.

So now I’m fretting and beating myself up: “Why, Kathleen, why??!! I know you love sharing good stories, but why THAT one?? What were people thinking of me then? What are they thinking now?”

And so it goes. I over-share and fret, over-share and fret. I’m that stressful blend of a sharer who then worries about being judged or misunderstood. It’s a complex existence! I suppose I do it because when I hit on a connection, it’s incredibly fulfilling, or I think, ‘who doesn’t love a good story!?’

I could TOTALLY avoid this anguish by just… simply… being quiet. But hey, at least it makes me interesting, right?