Think of all the occasions when you felt forced to pull yourself together. What did it feel like? Have you ever felt embarrassed?  To write about these events may trigger memories of the awkwardness, the fear, the desire to put forth a facade, so people didn't know what you really thought or felt.  All of these things aren't that bizarre. Some people hide from reality quite regularly. Among some of recognizable characters and stories, you might remember when;

1) Mickey Mouse was going to marry Minnie Mouse and nearly changed his mind based on the sorts of qualms that appeared in the bubble above his head. If it was you, would you have backed out?

2) Clark Kent contemplated revealing his true identity of Superman to his love, reporter Lois Lane, but anxiety and fear caused him to decide against it.

3) Miss Piggy was trying to open herself up to Kermit the Frog and he wasn't on the same romantic wavelength. You'll recall her engaging in karate moves to take her mind off rejection and help her regain composure.

4) Gilligan made an effort to express his feelings to the movie star, Ginger Grant, on Gilligan's Island, but he managed to fall out of a palm tree and become a laughing stock instead of being taken seriously.

5) During the Star Wars trilogy, Luke Skywalker battled evil creatures to save the galaxy and finally gathered the courage to express his love to Princess Leah, only to discover that she was his long-lost, real sister.

6) During Shrek, Donkey had cold feet about mating with affectionate Dragon yet, he quickly got over it when wife gave birth to cross-species offspring. Were they quads or quintuplets? So as to keep tabs on the brood, he didn't have time to think. 

7)  James Bond always seemed suave about romancing a new dame, regardless of the dangerous villains chasing him down the road.  He somewhow made time for a martini and a sexy woman.