Most Brits wouldn’t dream of engaging with strangers on a daily basis.
But one woman is on a mission to get rejected in as many ways as possible by asking strangers for bizarre requests – and claims she’s never felt happier.
Sophie Jones has made waves online after taking it upon herself to tackle her anxiety in an inventive way.
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The 22 year-old manager from Warrington, Cheshire, has spent the last 40-something days doing “rejection therapy” to learn how to cope with getting a ‘no’.
So far, she’s worn a stranger’s shoes to Tesco, made her own pizza at a takeaway, scanned someone else’s shopping at the supermarket and even asked if she could make her own McFlurry at McDonald’s.
“I saw a of a girl asking if she could make her own coffee [at a coffee shop] and kind of explain that she was doing rejection therapy,” Sophie told What’s The Jam.
“I thought, ‘Oh god. The thought of asking to make my own coffee makes my skin crawl.’
“If it makes me nervous just to get rejected, it’s an area of my life I need to work on.
“I thought I’ll just give it a go and it’s just carried on from there.
“Everything’s been hard to do – the anxiety would eat me up when I first started.
“I’ve been into a pizza place and asked if I can deliver and I saw a girl doing a TikTok dance on the beach and asked to join.
“There’s been quite a few days where I’ve been surprised I got a yes.
“Some said yes to making my own ice cream at the ice cream van, making my own pizza at a takeaway, wearing a random girl’s shoes in Tesco, scanning someone’s shopping on Tesco and going on Kiss radio.
“I’ve [also] asked for someone’s food out of their basket – it didn’t work!”
Sophie says the experience has been eye-opening.
She continued: “It’s shaped me millions of ways.
“I used to just think that people were watching me and I’ve realised that nobody is.
“I feel so much more confident in my work life and day life.
“I’ve taken it to the extreme.
“I’ve realised, ‘Hold on. If I can do something so silly then putting my idea forward in work is an absolute breeze’.
“It’s been more of a personal journey.
“I have suggested it to family but they are all are just like, ‘Absolutely not.’”
TOP 10 WEIRDEST THINGS SOPHIE HAS ASKED TO DO:
1. Asked a public transport driver if she can drive a bus.
2. Asked a barber if she can wash her hair in their basin.
3. Challenged multiple strangers to a dance off in public.
4. Asked if she can test the hose from a fire engine.
5. Asked a petrol station if she could have her fuel for free.
6. Asked a golf course receptionist if she could take some astroturf for her own garden.
7. Asked a stranger if she could try their shoes on.
8. Asked a clothing shop if she could be a live mannequin.
9. Asked McDonald’s if she could make her own McFlurry.
10. Asked a furniture shop if she could have a nap on their beds.
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