So I've been studying pickup inconsistently for maybe 2 years now. I've yet to finish a book or program, mainly because I found my problems to be more related to AA overall, and wasn't really looking for anything past getting rid of that anxiety.

Today, I finally made the first real step in changing my ways. Lately I've been feeling more confident since I've stopped masturbating (if you haven't done it yet, checkout /r/nofap), and decided today, I was going to do something about my anxiety. My goal was to make eye contact with girls walking past me at my uni, and just say hi to at least 5 of them. I said hi maybe 9 times, but made a lot of eye contact, trying to hold it for 3 seconds.

I had 3 real positive responses (either them saying hi back, or getting a smile back). Less than what I would've preferred, but far better than nothing, plus the whole point was to try and learn to do things like this better.

I'm amazed by how much I learned by doing just this, since it seems like such an innocuous action.

Tomorrow, I'm hoping to expand on this. If I see someone, guy or girl, sitting alone, and they don't seem to be doing work of some kind, I'll try to have a short conversation. I plan on doing this at least 5 times.

To my fellow AA guys, I highly suggest this. If nothing else, you are not even a blip on their radar, but if you get a positive response, you can't help but get a grin on your face. Your heart may be racing (like mine was), and you may get embarrassed by others around you, but once you've done this a couple times, you'll kick yourself more for NOT saying hi.

I'm now so excited for tomorrow.