I heard about a wild and crazy opportunity that I thought I had to try for 100 days of "rejection therapy" in this Ted Talk - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vZXgApsPCQ by Jia Jiang. Here is my journey so far and my lessons learned: Day 1 - trade a song for a "love" series plastic cup at Starbuck's - my idea was to go into Starbuck's, order my drink, and ask the person in line behind me to buy me one of the plastic reusable, environmentally friendly Starbuck's cups. Since Valentine's Day is coming up, and since I really LOVE the Starbuck's cups with the "love" theme, I thought it would be a perfect way to start the rejection therapy project while engaging someone else and doing something fun and funny. In my head, I was going to offer to sing the "Happy Birthday" song, ask the person their name, and invite the entire Starbuck's audience of willing and able customers to join in singing this song to whomever I encountered behind me in line. And here is how it went: I went into Starbuck's on the day of the Superbowl, there was no one in line behind me nor any customers in the store, and so I offered the cashier who waited on me a song for the Starbuck's cup, to which he replied, "Oh, I didn't know we had those," and I showed him the cup. Lesson #1: Make sure the person to whom you are pitching your idea knows that it is not a joke. Day 2 - give away free hugs at St. Francis Hospital - this was a bigger success than the first effort, mainly because I made sure that the person I requested permission from knew that it was not a joke ;). I asked the volunteer at the front desk, who asked the security officer, who asked him to obtain permission from the house manager, who called back and gave me permission. I received a lot of smiles and "hi's", some funny looks, and eleven hugs in one hour. I heard the story of a man's journey two hours after coming to see his mother, was told I made someone's day, and even received hugs from a veteran from the Korean war, a security officer, and people from all ethnic backgrounds and ages. This was so much fun, and I was invited back on any Monday night I wish. Lesson # 2: Wow, I didn't realize how much fear I would have with this one. I thought that I had conquered my fear of embarrassment long ago, and realized very quickly that as I locked eyes with people in an attempt to see if they were open to a hug, my vulnerability showed too. Day 3 - contact Jake Nawrocki to collaborate on something - this is actually one of my 18 in 2018, too, and I will write more on this in an upcoming blog! I listen to Jake's podcast - Operation Self Reset - when I am on the treadmill at the gym, which equates to 3-4 times a week, and since his podcasts come out once a week, after I listen to any I have missed, I even listen to some that I have already heard and learn something new. I actually emailed Jake when I got home last night after a lack of another rejection therapy project today, so it was not what I was planning to do today. Lesson #3: Planning is key. My idea today was to start a compliment chain in a restaurant or coffee shop where I was having lunch with a friend, and instead I ended up just hanging out because I didn't have all my supplies with me. I am typing out the next rejection therapy project in an effort to keep to my plan - I want to go to a coffee shop or a restaurant with some stickers (Valentine's or smiley face themed) and ask other customers if they want to participate in a compliment chain. Either way, I will compliment them and give them a smiley face, then if they say "yes" I will also give them a smiley face for the person to whom they pass on a compliment. So now I am daring you to be part of my experiment, either by engaging in your own rejection therapy or by sending me ideas for some of my upcoming 100 days...the three criteria I have set for myself for this project are as follows: 1) must be fun, 2) must be moral, and 3) must make the world a better place. www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQTnREEtuNk
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AuthorValerie Ellis, who is in alignment with the Black Lives Matter Movement and everyone whose life is impacted, now or before, by times of social injustice. Archives
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