An interesting read, there's no need to be ashamed of this happening, I put it down to 'human trait' - trying to 'fit in' or whatever similar reason, it's more so as people are growing up of course - now we're older and (a bit) wiser, as you have shown, we can 'finally' laugh at ourselves.
I remember watching Sir Richard Attenborough (You thought I was going to say Searling didn't ya?!) ....On a Parkinson interview and he was saying he loves being at the age he was then (pretty old) because and I quote "The pressure’s off" and he went on to talk about what it's like now at parties etc, he said he felt so much more relaxed - A great man.
All the best,
Len