Overcoming awkwardness. A great, albeit unintended benefit of going zero waste has been an increase in my confidence. Before, I would cringe at the thought of asking for anything remotely unconventional when ordering food or paying for a purchase. I feared rejection, offending people or making them uncomfortable. Have you struggled with this part of living more sustainably? I often have to psych myself up before asking for something zero waste in new places, but the more I do it the easier it becomes. What I've learned is, if you ask nicely, make eye contact, smile & *appear* confident in your request, you can’t really go wrong. :) I also learned to be upfront & specific to avoid confusion or awkward back & forth. Here are some examples of how I approach various scenarios: • Point at container & smile for illustration. “Hi there, please can I get the green curry in my own container? Thanks so much.” • Hand over cup to avoid any confusion. “Hiya, please can I have an oat milk latte in my cup? Thank you!” • Make eye contact and smile “Hello, please can I have a lemonade with no straw.” • Hand over clean bottle with a smile. "Hi there, would it be OK to fill up my water bottle? Thank you so much!" • Hold out a reusable bag when making a purchase. "Don't worry, I have my own bag thanks." 〰️ Sometimes it's helpful to explain why you are avoiding disposables, but other times it's best to keep it short & sweet. As a confirmed people pleaser, it has been so empowering to accept that asking for something slightly different when making a purchase isn't offensive or rude. Doing things that push us out of our comfort zone helps us grow and the goal is that the more people that use reusables and say no to straws, the more the norm it will be. It is also a great opportunity to start important conversations. 〰️ What you're doing is amazing, so don't doubt yourself! Here's to building that confidence & making positive changes, one reusable cup at a time. 🙌🌍❤ . . . #wastenot #savetheplanet #zerowastemovement #avoidwaste #confidence #nopeoplepleasing (at Brew & Brownie) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu4iYmtH_EM/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1qg5ewhu30vy0
