Fun Lessons in Humility

So, there are times in life when you're faced with a decision that either leaves your feeling like a man or a cowardly boy... we'll call them "Man-up Moments". A few days ago, I would say I was faced with such a moment. I was walking through a shopping mall on-route to go say hi to a friend I had met a couple days previously. On my way, I saw a strikingly beautiful girl working in a small clothing shop. I shrugged it off, and went to go meet up with my friend. Afterward, however, I passed the same shop, to see her still standing there by herself. For reasons beyond me, after I passed by, a voice spoke into my head, "You should go tell her she's pretty." We'll call this my Insane Voice. Immediately shrugging off the suggestion, I kept walking, but the voice insisted. "What are you, too cowardly to do it?" I stopped... the internal challenge had been waged.

Sane Voice: Now, why in the world would I go say that to her?

Insane Voice: Why in the world wouldn't you? Think about it... One, you have an opportunity to hopefully encourage a girl in a non-creepy way, which she probably never gets. Two, you get an opportunity to prove you still have the balls to do it. Three, you're in South Africa... you'll probably never see her again, so even it goes poorly, no biggie.

Sane Voice: I.... uh..... hmmm....

The logic was pretty sound. "I'll do it..." After like four attempts at walking toward the entrance, and then suddenly steering away trying to rationalize myself out of it, and then another internal dialog, I finally entered the store and approached the girl. She welcomed me with a smile, as I regurgitated my scripted conversation that I can't even recall to this day. I was something along the lines of... "Hi, my name's Jon. I hope this doesn't come off poorly, but I just wanted to let you know that you are one of the most strikingly beautiful women I've ever seen." She smiled and said thank you, as I quickly rushed to my exit line. "I just wanted to let you know that. So, have a great rest of the day." I turned and proceeded to leave the store, my heart racing and certainly sweat noticeable. However, after a few minutes that anxiety turned to confidence... I had manned-up...

One would hope the story would end there, but no. The literal next day I was walking with my friend Shannon who said she wanted to stop by the mall to say hi to a girl she met a week or so ago. Not thinking anything of it, I said sure and we walked toward the mall. Suddenly we started taking an oh-too-familiar path, as she walked directly to the clothing shop. I panicked, told her I had to go to the bathroom, and retreated as I saw her go in to talk to the EXACT SAME GIRL. I went to the bathroom, literally laughing out loud in the stall. I walked back near the door, but didn't go in. I knew Shannon was waiting for me to come back and meet her there, so she was just going to stay in there until I returned. But how could I go in and face this girl whom I just made a fool of myself with the literal day before.

The irony really set in... yesterday I was all cocky and confident for manning up, and here I now stand with my tail between my legs scared to death of this woman. Humility is a funny lesson to learn most of the time...