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Humans are incredible creatures. When we really push ourselves, we can cure diseases, run ultramarathons and create amazing pieces of artwork. But we can't all be exceptional. For some of us, the greatest accomplishment we’ll ever achieve is getting millions of views on a viral video of our most embarrassing moment.
Redditors have recently been sharing unique flexes that they’re too embarrassed to tell others about, so we’ve gathered the most amusing ones below. Enjoy reading through these skills and accomplishments that people are secretly super proud of, and be sure to upvote the ones you find impressive!
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#1
I’m the first one in my family that’s graduating college with honours and got into an honours BA with advanced standing, and who knows might even go ahead and do a masters after.
As a kid who grew up with nothing, then ended up orphaned and in the foster system, I’m proud of myself. 🥹.
To find out more about how this conversation started in the first place, we reached out to Reddit user MTC4U, who posed the question, "What is a flex you're proud of but too embarrassed to show off?" MTC4U was kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda and share what inspired him to start this thread.
"I smoked weed daily for like 8 years straight. It was something I wanted to quit because it was starting to affect my productivity, and I wanted to be sharp at my work (I work in the lab at my local hospital)," the OP shared. "I managed to quit a few times for a few weeks, but whenever I got bored or stressed, I just started to smoke it again."
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#2
My body. I’m still fat, but I’ve been working out and watching my diet for 15 weeks, so there has been a slight difference. :).
Sue Denham 6 months ago
You're doing great. Just keep on going and slowly but surely you'll become healthier.
#3
Between the pandemic and having a second kid, I gained a ton of weight in the last 5 years. A couple months ago I finally started getting semi-serious about losing weight. My goal was to hit 200 lbs by my birthday, down about 15-20 lbs from my max weight.
Yesterday was my birthday, and I weighed 198. I'm proud of the progress, but embarrassed to share because I am still very overweight.
"Last week, I was one year smoke free and counting! The problem was: nobody even knew I smoked weed! Not my friends nor my family," MTC4U continued. "So even though it was a personal flex to stay off the weed for a full year, I had nobody to share it with."
"So, on the morning of my sobriety anniversary, I looked in the mirror and I kind of nodded to myself and thought: '[heck] yeah I did it!' But then I also wondered if anyone else was proud of something but was unable to share it for some reason," he noted. "That’s why I asked the Redditors if they were willing to share their flexes, so they could get the recognition they deserved or just share their story for fun."
#5
I can name around 1200 species of plants and trees native to the Appalachian region of Ohio. I've had this skill since I was a pre-teen. I'm incredibly annoying to hike with due to my incessant babble about wildlife.
[I grew up at a summer camp - nature preserve that my parents managed spending the bulk of my time out in the forest with field identification guides.].
#6
I went from being denied acceptance into every college I applied to. To getting my master's, becoming a doctor and, owing two practices. F**k them colleges.
We were also curious if the OP had any more unique skills that he's proud of but doesn't necessarily share with everyone. "Well, when I was small kid, I was a fan of Michael Jackson and mind you, this was peak 80’s Michael Jackson (yes I am old now)," he shared with a smile.
"At a young age, I practiced his dance moves meticulously to a point that I could do pretty good impersonation when I was a teen. I’m still capable to bust some moves, and from time to time, I moonwalk through my hospital where I work wearing my lab coat," MTC4U revealed. "The linoleum hospital floor is exceptionally good for this!"
#7
I entered a pub quiz while on holiday when I was about 10 years old with my family. The prize money was €300 and there were about 30 teams. I won by a margin, and my family didn't answer a single question. My mam and dad still talk about it 20 years later. I have a ridiculously good brain for general knowledge and otherwise useless trivia. At age 29, I was diagnosed with ADHD and it turns out that my hyper focusing on random and "pointless" topics is actually pretty neat.
Monika Brandt 6 months ago
Me too! I passed my final in a college level math class only because I answered all of the extra credit trivia questions at the end. Knowing the full name of Barbie did come in handy.
#8
I’ve been hired as a nude model for art classes, medical schools, and physical therapy workshops. Proud of it because I’m an engineering nerd who never thought I’d be any type of model. Embarrassed because the few people I’ve told in person responded with derision.
Sue Denham 6 months ago
Those people who were derisive? Pity them; they haven't mentally grown up yet.
#9
I have a FanFic account with a story that has more than 3 million views. Except I wrote it and posted it then never logged back in. So I didn't find out until like 10 years later that I was FanFic famous & a lot of people were really pissed that I never finished the story lmao.
As far as what the OP thought of the replies to his post, he told Bored Panda he was "baffled by how many people were boasting about their genitals, mainly the male phallus!"
"But the real surprise was that people were willing to share their embarrassing achievement, collection or even body parts thinking that they were probably only a small few. But it turned out that there were many more with similar experiences or interests," MTC4U continued. "[It was nice to see] how well they could relate with each other, and it created sub threads where they were sharing stories and complementing each other."
#11
I have released a series of moderately successful self published books, paid off my house and car but still go to work every day. My wife doesn't know our mortgage is paid and kids have £25k aside each when they are 18.
Reason - I love working my day job and don't trust her with money. Ridiculous and yet necessary for peace.
#12
I can sing soprano as a straight male dude. I will only karaoke in family functions because a few times I did it in front of friends and they started to call me Celine D-Bag. Never again.
"It was also nice to see that people were proud of others and gave them the recognition they deserved," the OP continued. "There was one post about a man whose wife was a neurosurgeon changing people lives for the better, but she didn’t want to get any special recognition for 'just doing her job.'"
"But personally, for me, the best ones were people fighting addiction, depression, and personal barriers," MTC4U added. "Overcoming obstacles and beating their inner demons to achieve something they always desired. It’s inspirational to see how many people are willing to change for the better once they get the proper motivation. Also, single parents taking care of their kids? Absolutely a flex! Huge props!"
#13
I have a very sensitive nose. I can smell things that others don’t or are not bothered. Embarrassing because, after knowing woman for about two months I can tell they have their period. I can pick out different peoples smell after I know them for a bit. Not something you tell other people.
Antony Aston 6 months ago
I can also smell when it's a woman's time of month. I can also smell cancer on people's breath. Neither is a blessing.
#14
I can deep throat a popsicle all the way down the end of the stick without gagging. Only problem is that I’m a straight dude.
#15
I have full control of all my toes. Yes, this means I can wiggle any toe without moving other ones.
Justin Tyme 6 months ago
I can do this too. I have long toes that I can use like fingers. Very helpful for when I am doing a DIY project and need a third "hand".
Finally, MTC4U wanted to encourage others to share their unique flexes. "Please do! There are so many things people achieve in their lives, small, big not knowing the impact it might have on them or others, how embarrassing or insignificant it might be to them," they explained. "It could help others in a similar situation, help find someone to share the burden with or just get a well-deserved compliment. It’s amazing how much an up/down nod or a pat on the shoulder can do for someone!"
#16
I can squat 650lbs but never tell anyone because I feel like I'll sound like one of those guys whose entire personality is lifting.
#17
I bought Nvidia stock in 2016, and the gains are more than I paid for my house. I'm not a stock market follower, just a geeky dude who follows tech and saw potential.
#18
My middle toe doesn’t curl so when I scrunch my toes I can swear with my foot.
Sue Denham 6 months ago
This happens to my hands when I'm in the presence of an a$$hole. I think it's a rare condition.
#19
I have memorized the entire "Harry Potter" series and can quote whole passages. It's a bit nerdy, but I'm proud of it!
Rhodri Terrell 6 months ago
Another potter head!! I so wish I had your skill! That's so cool!!
#20
My wife is a doctor in neurosurgery. I love bragging about her but she is very humble and reserved about it. Doesn’t want people calling her Doctor and prefer others don’t know her profession. .
#21
I get really good really fast at any skill i pick up. This sucks because it pretty much makes me the guy who everyone call to fix and make random things.
DrBronxx 6 months ago (edited)
I can pick things up relatively quickly, but rather than becoming really good, I become basically proficient. There are a lot of sports where I can get the basics down quickly, but I then plateau. So, I'm good out of the blocks, but people surpass me relatively quickly.
#22
Have a GoPro video I posted in 2008 with 16 million views. It’s me crashing on my bike and breaking a rib. Basically a 3 min pov video of me moaning has been viewed by scary portion of the population lol.
#24
As a cis girl, I can pee standing up. I have pretty good aim, too.
#26
I can squeeze 209lbs on the grip tester and I do not go to the gym. I am a contractor in the trades in my mid 50s.
#27
I can tell which episode of Criminal Minds it is by about 30 seconds of the opening. I once got it from just a random still.
T'Mar of Vulcan 6 months ago
Most Star Trek fans can do this within 15 seconds... of any episode of any of the Trek series.
#28
I can burp louder than a lawnmower.
Edit- yes lawnmowers don't burp, I am referring to the fact I can burp around 96dB, 98 being my all time best (likely not accurate as I really doubt smartphone dB meters count for scientific accuracy). Google reports lawn mowers at about 94dB.
#29
I can pick my nose with my tongue. I know it’s gross but it’s also very….. unique.
#30
My Wordle statistics.
What do you think ?
Noproblem 6 months ago
My horrible flex is that I am really good at making “challenging” clients unnaturally happy. Like, to the point where they specifically ask for me to manage their projects. Which makes me a superstar to my bosses, but means I spend most of my days working with the challenging clients.
similarly 6 months ago
Years ago, in my workplace, during meetings, the boss would ask the team for volunteers to do particularly difficult, detailed, boring work ... the "dirty jobs" that nobody wanted, like taking care of a difficult client ... and I'd feel sorry for the poor guy because he'd be literally begging the team and nobody would volunteer. So I started volunteering, just out of pity. Pretty soon, I got a reputation for taking on jobs nobody wanted. That turned into a reputation for "taking on difficult jobs". Pretty soon, I was the office guinea pig, and I started getting the INTERESTING work. They'd come to me and say "We have this new thing, and nobody's ever tried it before. Can you just play with and come up with a procedure on how we might use it!" I used a cell-phone with a camera LONG before I ever saw it on the market. It was this gigantic, silly thing the size of a book with a really small black&white monitor that moved at about one frame a second!
Load More Replies...
Hphizzle 6 months ago
I can make just about any human or animal fall asleep. I’ve had a snake fall asleep in my arms. I can get most humans to sleep either through storytelling (probably equivalent to guided meditation) or if I’m holding them, slowing my breathing and heart rate. I was a nanny/child-minder for many years. And I’m a chill person in general.
Chewie Baron 6 months ago
I remember back in the late 80s/early 90s, there was a tv show on in the UK called You Bet! (I occasionally and randomly hum the theme tune to it for some reason). There would celebrities who each ‘sponsored’ some random person who would be able to do some mad weird thing, and the other celebrities would say if they agreed or not on whether they would be able to do it. Then the audience would vote and the celebrities would get points based on the percentage of the audience who said yes or no. Anyway, one episode, there was a guy who was able to guess what song was playing, from a completely random choice, based on how a candle reacted to the vibrations coming from a speaker next to it in a completely different room. And he got every single one! Mad!
Noproblem 6 months ago
My horrible flex is that I am really good at making “challenging” clients unnaturally happy. Like, to the point where they specifically ask for me to manage their projects. Which makes me a superstar to my bosses, but means I spend most of my days working with the challenging clients.
similarly 6 months ago
Years ago, in my workplace, during meetings, the boss would ask the team for volunteers to do particularly difficult, detailed, boring work ... the "dirty jobs" that nobody wanted, like taking care of a difficult client ... and I'd feel sorry for the poor guy because he'd be literally begging the team and nobody would volunteer. So I started volunteering, just out of pity. Pretty soon, I got a reputation for taking on jobs nobody wanted. That turned into a reputation for "taking on difficult jobs". Pretty soon, I was the office guinea pig, and I started getting the INTERESTING work. They'd come to me and say "We have this new thing, and nobody's ever tried it before. Can you just play with and come up with a procedure on how we might use it!" I used a cell-phone with a camera LONG before I ever saw it on the market. It was this gigantic, silly thing the size of a book with a really small black&white monitor that moved at about one frame a second!
Load More Replies... Hphizzle 6 months ago
I can make just about any human or animal fall asleep. I’ve had a snake fall asleep in my arms. I can get most humans to sleep either through storytelling (probably equivalent to guided meditation) or if I’m holding them, slowing my breathing and heart rate. I was a nanny/child-minder for many years. And I’m a chill person in general.
Chewie Baron 6 months ago
I remember back in the late 80s/early 90s, there was a tv show on in the UK called You Bet! (I occasionally and randomly hum the theme tune to it for some reason). There would celebrities who each ‘sponsored’ some random person who would be able to do some mad weird thing, and the other celebrities would say if they agreed or not on whether they would be able to do it. Then the audience would vote and the celebrities would get points based on the percentage of the audience who said yes or no. Anyway, one episode, there was a guy who was able to guess what song was playing, from a completely random choice, based on how a candle reacted to the vibrations coming from a speaker next to it in a completely different room. And he got every single one! Mad!
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