This is my first cold approach. I'm 25 with a great job and occasional low self esteem. Coming from an Asian household, I didn't grow up as a complete emotional intelligent being (emotions are dead last on the agenda in our culture).

Anyways, I was at a hipster area full of coffee shops and small boutiques in Southern California. I passed by a yoga store and saw a gorgeous chick behind the counter looking bored as fuck.

I have this problem where my brain tells myself lines like, "She looks that good.. she probably has a boyfriend" or "she's on her phone.. she must be bitch." Needless to say, this kind of small talk got me no where.

Knowing this, I let my balls do the walking and repeated to myself, "I wonder what she's like." I was scared shitless but did it anyways. I came up to her and reached my hand out.

"Hi, I'm longelm. What's your name?"

"Hi, I'm Amanda"

(me scratching my head slightly nervous) "Uhh, I thought you were cute and wanted to say hi."

She smiled and looked down for a quick tick. Her head popped up and asked me if I liked yoga. We made small talk for a bit until I walked away nervously. Mind you, I'm a decent conversationalist when talking to people I'm not attracted to. I'm trying to stair step my way to translating this with everyone I interact with.

It wasn't the best interaction of my life, but I have told a couple other girls they look gorgeous since then and I'm still alive. Baby steps nonetheless.