Tis the season to be jolly, filled with mistletoe and holly! And mistletoe means kissing, or so tradition holds. So what do you do when your year long crush heads over to you with a branch of mistletoe in hand? Or even worse, how do you handle it when the person who has been crushing on you all year long rushes over with the mystical branch in tow? Don't fret. Relax! Kissing seems to be a regular part of the winter holidays and many otherwise shy people use the old mistletoe tradition to get smooches from their crushes without putting their feelings out on the line. With this in mind, how should you handle the old mistletoe approach? Rather than running away in panic, when you find yourself under the mistletoequickly examine the situation and then use the tips outlined below.
Kissing someone you don't really like
Be polite. Smile. Turn your face and offer them your cheek. Hold stead fast to this gesture and if they move to get your lips, well, turn the other cheek. You are never under any obligation to let somebody kiss you on the lips, but a polite social peck on the cheek never hurt anyone. Rather than look like a scrooge when a person you don't ever want to lock lips with traps you under the mistletoe, offer them your cheek and follow up with a simple peck on theirs. No arms around each other, no hand holding, no extra touching whatsoever, only a peck and a smile. Then say something nice, smile and walk away (quickly). They'll get the message that you aren't interested while still maintaining their dignity (a nice holiday gesture, don't you think?).