Ok. So the origin of this small but powerful act/thing/practice for me is from my childhood. My parents in their infinite wisdom would say to me, “How do you know you don’t like it until you try it? Have a ‘no, thank you’ helping. Then tell me you don’t like it.” Powerful indeed because I was forced into trying anything and everything they made. That’s how I discovered I hate cherry tomatoes but LOVED string beans. Later in life I discovered that I love grape tomatoes which look so similar to cherry tomatoes one might think they taste the same. But no, looks can be deceiving of course.

It’s a practice you can apply to everything in life. Are you having trouble being honest with someone? Decide for an instant that you will be honest with them in a “no, thank you” helping size. It makes the theory of taking baby steps easier and more fun.

Many years ago while I was working for a photo studio I had the pleasure of a having a sushi lunch with two of the photographers we represented. Lunch with two of the photographers at the same time didn’t happen very often but we were collaborating on the pre-production of a very complicated event. It was lunchtime, we needed a break.
At this sushi lunch, one of them decided it would be fantastic idea for me to try Quail eggs. I agreed. What did I know about Quail eggs? I thought perhaps they would even be topped with a dab of spicy sauce and yummy row.

Of course, I was taken aback when the small plate arrived with the Quail egg jiggling inside it’s seaweed coat. I stared at it for a few moments. My lunch companions “egged” me on until I finally picked up the delicacy carefully. I didn’t want to spill a drop. I popped it in my mouth fast. And two seconds later, trying desperately not to regurge at the table spit it out in a napkin. My two companions were laughing hysterically and ever since they have never let me forget that moment.