Let's face it, no matter how hard you try, there is always going to be some horrible picture of you posted somewhere. Whether it's for your birthday collage, someones woman crush Wednesday or an unexpected throwback Thursday, you won't always love the pictures posted to social media.
We have concocted the four stages of embarrassing pictures:
1. Denial- We have all had that moment (especially on our birthdays) when we see that notification from Instagram... the dreaded "photo added of you". In that moment, your heart is pounding, you are experiencing shortness of breath and your hands are sweating. You have terrifying flashbacks of all of the selfies you sent your best friend via snapchat exactly 6 days, 3 hours, and 27 minutes ago. You instantly close the app and refuse to check again until you are mentally prepared. (Tips on how to be prepared: go look at your prom pictures or that really good selfie you took last month)
2. Anger- You have now seen the post. You think to yourself "How could they do that to me? I trusted them!" You immediately begin to contemplate deleting all social media (especially snapchat) as well as never taking another picture of yourself ever again.
3. Faking it till you make it- Instead of expressing your true anger, of course you have to reply with the cliche "OH MY GOSH <3 THANK YOU SO MUCH! I love this almost as much as I love you!" You say these things, but inside you a small volcano is erupting with anger and embarrassment. You even feel like not being best friends with them anymore (for about 5 seconds).
4. Embracing it- The more you look at the post now, the funnier it is. Regardless of how hard you try, pictures are going to be found (for example the pictures above come from Facebook albums from a long long time ago). Friends during birthday weeks become expert stalkers, there is no hiding. Do not be ashamed of your middle school, brace face, edited pictures...we all have them. And now you can look forward to your revenge...