I just flew back home from London Heathrow to Schiphol airport. I want to share this story because it's about shooting your shot.
At the gate, I saw a woman who I crushed on hard! When we got on the plane, I just so happened to walk behind her which made me think about if I could try to get her attention somehow, without being creepy.
Once on the plane, I wrote a small letter. It said that I loved her style/vibe and that I was crushing on her. It said I wanted to get to know her better, and if she felt the same way she could contact me using the phone number I wrote down. It also said that if she's not interested, that I respect that and that I apologise for putting her in that position.
So we land, and it is absolute chaos. I hurried as much as I could but could not find her again, as she got off the plane much earlier than I did. So why is this a win and a loss?
For the first time ever, I was going to shoot a shot that required me to get out of my comfort zone massively. I was ready, and I was 100% going to do it (evident by how much I rushed and hurried).
I was not afraid of a no. Of course I would have loved to give it to her and see her pop up on my phone or react excitedly irl. However, I knew no was a possibility, but I wasn't scared for it.
So people: shoot your shot! Do it respectfully, but try it. I now REALLY know how it feels to think "what if": a "no" is much better ;). She'll be in my mind for a while and then I'll move on. Sad that I missed this chance, happy that I was going for it!
Good luck out there, be confident!
(Yes I'd do anything to go back in time and write the letter prior to boarding so I could give it to her just before or during the flight).