Attention is a currency. You own your attention. Attention has value because it takes energy to pay attention.

You're on your way to the coffee shop when you see a pretty woman across the street and turn your head. You have PAID attention. You have expended energy and worse, you may have switched your mental context out of some subject that is dear to your mind and onto a subject that is the matter of tribal, primitive drives. You think it's just one look, but it adds up. There's a lot of cognitive depletion that happens due to paying attention.

Women are energy vampires in more ways than one. The reason they are the primary consumers is that they need to keep trying different dresses, shoes, make up, accessories and gadgets to figure out which ones get them the most attention! They use this attention to continually gauge their worth as a person in this world. This is a one-way game. You lose energy, she gains validation.

Don't sell yourself short, man. Keep your energy. Just do your thing. Don't make eye contact. Walk a few feet away, in a safe zone that prevents her from playing coy games to distract you. Look the other way. Think your own thoughts. The world is a beautiful place full of possibilities. If you have the energy and steadfastness to pursue them to completion.