Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 9/6/2005 (5700 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

LIFE is basically an accumulation of moments. Some are amazing, others are painful and some are simply embarrassing. However, I firmly believe what does not kill us makes us stronger. So that means these horrendously blush-worthy moments build character, which makes them a little easier to tolerate. At least, this is what we tell ourselves so that we can leave the house the next day.

The range of embarrassing moments that can affect us is staggering. They can take the shape of leafy green residue in your teeth during that all-important interview, or perhaps an inopportune split in your pants. Regardless of how these embarrassing moments take shape, they provide for countless hours of entertainment for those around you.

So be positive, that unplanned makeshift air vent you created in your pants made someone smile.

My personal embarrassing moments have varied over the years. In high school, it was developing a massive facial eruption on the end of my nose the day pictures were scheduled. However, nothing in high school could even compare to what happened on one fateful day of university.

It was exam week, and like most students, I was spending a great deal of my time making up for poor study habits during the term.

On a break between exams, I decided to treat myself to an at-home facial. In theory, it sounded like a great idea. I would slather on the miracle cream of the week, make myself some tea and vegetate for a little while.

I proceeded to apply a blue clay mask and settled down for some hard-core relaxation. Evidently my plan worked too well and I fell asleep. When I woke, I realized that I was late for a meeting at school.

I jumped up, grabbed my things and ran out the door. I was not one of the fortunate students to have an apartment close to university. Nope, I had to take not one, but two, buses to get to school. During this journey, I noticed some exceptionally odd looks, but shrugged it off.

It was not until I arrived at university that I ran into a classmate, who politely suggested I visit a mirror. Yep. You guessed it. Staring back at me was a rather haggard version of myself. The blue clay mask had dried out to the point where the surface was cracked like a desert plain.

How I hadn't noticed is beyond me. I can only chalk it up to being focused, but still, this was a pretty large oversight.

You may think that my "moment" ended there. Sadly, you would be mistaken.

These at-home facials are basically designed to be applied for an average of 20 minutes, not eight hours. Needless to say, it took more than a refreshing splash of water to remove my blunder. After eight hours, I almost needed to enlist the help of some steel wool.

I spent the remainder of the day with a bright red face, prompting everyone I ran into to ask if I had just been to the gym.

So regardless of how embarrassing your "moment" was, remember that it is just a moment.

Given enough time, you should be able look back and laugh at the whole sorry episode.

I can honestly say my "moment" probably made me a stronger person; one who is not only able to laugh at herself, but who also has exceptionally clean pores.

Jody Hargreaves is a writer who -- only once -- was a little blue on the bus.