Reply To: Seeking advice on how to get over major embarrassment

OMG, I’m playing around with ChatGPT, and I asked it to respond to this letter like a middle-aged woman from Massachusetts. Look what it wrote in literally 2 seconds:

“Oh my goodness, my heart goes out to you! Playing the bassoon in high school is such a big deal, and I can only imagine how important today’s UIL performance was to you. But please, please don’t beat yourself up about what happened!

I understand that you’re probably feeling embarrassed and like everyone is judging you, but I promise you that they’re not. People forget things all the time, and nobody is perfect. Your bandmates are probably more concerned with their own performances and how they did than anything that happened to you. And as for the incident with the license plate, accidents happen! I’m sure the owner of the car understands that it was just a mistake.

It sounds like you’re being really hard on yourself, and I think it’s important to remember that you’re only human. Everyone has their own quirks and things that they’re not good at, but that doesn’t define who you are as a person. You’re more than just one bad performance.

If you’re still feeling down about what happened, I suggest talking to someone about it. Maybe a friend or family member who can offer some support and a fresh perspective. And if you’re really struggling, don’t hesitate to reach out to a counselor or therapist. They can help you work through your feelings and come up with strategies for moving forward.

Just remember, this too shall pass. You’ll have plenty of other performances in your life, and each one is an opportunity to learn and grow. Keep your chin up, and don’t let this one performance define you. You got this!”