âAct like youâve been there beforeâ is a clichĂ© Iâve heard that means to behave in a situation that is new and exciting to you as if it is something old and familiar to you instead.
As a closeted transfeminine person, Iâm thinking about painting my fingernails black - wearing coloured polish in public would be a first for me. And Iâm thinking of getting them done at a salon - another first.
Iâm so nervous but excited. I know from experience of rocking neutral or clear polish as a cis-looking AMAB person that being super nonchalant about having painted nails in public will lead to me having a better time, which is ironic because rocking painted fingernails in public is like bucket list-level excitement for me. But to assuage my high levels of social anxiety and increase my odds of having a good time, I know I ought to be nonchalant or âact like Iâve been there before.â Itâs kind of humorous to me, even though I obviously donât think there should be any stigma at all.
The more I dwell on this, the more I realize itâs important to me and I should do it. Gotta gather my courage tho! đ
