My mom and I went into this gift store in the mall about a month ago and met the sweetest girl. She was working alone in the store and just engaged us in conversation as though we were best friends. I've never met anyone soo friendly. I wanted to eat her up, in hopes of becoming just a teensy bit like her. FYI my mom and I are the best judges of character in the world. Growing up, I believed my mom was a witch or something. Now that I've realized I have the same gift, I've dropped that belief.
So anyways, back to the sweet girl....my mom and I both believed every word out of her mouth was genuine. And most of the words out of her mouth were compliments. She told me that she loved my hair and that she also loved my jacket. It's been sooo long since I've been complimented that way. I left the store feeling pretty damn good about myself.
This past weekend I was at the mall with my mom and she said "let's go see if our friend is working." As we approached the store, we saw her and she looked up and gave us the biggest smile and waved. We chatted a bit and again, she told me that she really loved my hair.
I gave up cutting hair a long time ago, but I almost offered to pull my sissors out of retirement and give her the cut she wanted, that's how sweet she was. Thank God I caught myself before I said anything stupid though. I don't cut hair anymore...I only cut Jimmy's and my parent's hair. It's a rule of mine. And I almost broke my own rule.
That's what compliments do to me. They make me walk tall, feel invincible and want to make exceptions to my rules.
Most of the time, I'm lousy at accepting compliments. They embarrass me. But I'm even worse at giving a compliment. I just don't know how to give it without seeming like I'm scheming or trying to butter someone up.
So, I'm bringing a little challenge to the table. Play along with me, or not. Either way, I'm gonna try to give out a compliment this week. I know, you're thinking "one compliment for the whole week??" Well, knock yourself out and give out 100 empty compliments if that's what you're used to doing. I've saving mine so that it's genuine. I wanna make someone's day. Maybe even someone's week.
How often do you get complimented? And when you do, what is it that gets the most attention?
So anyways, back to the sweet girl....my mom and I both believed every word out of her mouth was genuine. And most of the words out of her mouth were compliments. She told me that she loved my hair and that she also loved my jacket. It's been sooo long since I've been complimented that way. I left the store feeling pretty damn good about myself.
This past weekend I was at the mall with my mom and she said "let's go see if our friend is working." As we approached the store, we saw her and she looked up and gave us the biggest smile and waved. We chatted a bit and again, she told me that she really loved my hair.
I gave up cutting hair a long time ago, but I almost offered to pull my sissors out of retirement and give her the cut she wanted, that's how sweet she was. Thank God I caught myself before I said anything stupid though. I don't cut hair anymore...I only cut Jimmy's and my parent's hair. It's a rule of mine. And I almost broke my own rule.
That's what compliments do to me. They make me walk tall, feel invincible and want to make exceptions to my rules.
Most of the time, I'm lousy at accepting compliments. They embarrass me. But I'm even worse at giving a compliment. I just don't know how to give it without seeming like I'm scheming or trying to butter someone up.
So, I'm bringing a little challenge to the table. Play along with me, or not. Either way, I'm gonna try to give out a compliment this week. I know, you're thinking "one compliment for the whole week??" Well, knock yourself out and give out 100 empty compliments if that's what you're used to doing. I've saving mine so that it's genuine. I wanna make someone's day. Maybe even someone's week.
How often do you get complimented? And when you do, what is it that gets the most attention?
posted by Raina* at 10:32 PM
15 Comments:
i get compliments now on how much weight i have lost..yeah big love gone skinny love ..tends to get noticed..and actually it kinda makes me blush if you can believe that...i use to not blush i am vain,,,hehehehe
good challenge girl...i wish i could think of something to challenge people or debate about...i really like the idea you gave scott about a question a week
ever since i've had my kids, strangers when we're out somewhere will say that they're so cute or something like that. and it makes me feel a little uncomfortable, cause i give that credit to God -- he made them!! i think it's a nice compliment but i feel a little strange saying "thank-you", i don't know why???
good question! makes ya think :)
I get complimented on my hair color at least 3 times a week. Or my smile a lot by people at my bar job.
Yay for awesome compliments from your new friend! Hooray for her! :)
The compliments that I get are either about my eyes, or about how I seem to care about people (boy have I got people fooled). Seriously though, people say that I am a kind person. Hear that a lot from clients which always makes me feel great.
Scott
That is a great idea. I just received the best compliment ever. I was at happy hour with some people I know through work and one of the guys said, "Angie you are the most real person I have ever met." It made me so happy you would have thought he said I looked like Heidi Klum!
you know what captures my attention as a compliment? when you can tell it is sincere & genuine by the thought that goes into it. well maybe not "thought" exactly but...more than just a generic pleasantry. one of my favorite compliments is on my personality. someone saying that i am sweet or warm or that they can hear the smile in my voice.
I am an under-complimenter too. I don't think I tell people how fabulous they are often enough. I have two friends who are super with compliments and I love them for it and I'm always thinking that I should do it more to make other people feel fabulous.
Anyway, today I gave a compliment even before I read your challenge. I saw a student from last semester in the halls who had new glasses and I told her they were fabulous.
Good luck with your challenge!
jewelry, hair,purses, being tan, teeth, eyes
does telling the guy i'm dating that he's handsome on a regular basis count? or is that one of those "you're supposed to do that" things?
OMG let me give little baby banner a HUGE compliment because I just saw him in the slide and he is SO FREAKING ADORABLE!!!! So so so tiny!!!
And to answer your question. I like the compliments that mean something... when someone just says hey I like your shirt it feels nice for someone to say they like the style or whatever I've chosen but compliments like the one you've just given about the girl at the shop are what I like the most. Compliments about your character or who you are are the best ones to get. Recently I heard "Keep smiling, it makes everyone else feel better" and I thought that was a nice one.
alright... you got me... i hate your hair!
no i'm kidding! i honestly love it... and when i say that to YOU i mean that i love what it is. it's so full and bouncy and bright and fun and just THERE!!! you are your hair
i love that i can almost see all of your teeth when you smile.
i love that you think and breathe and are so enlightening.
there's something about coming here and reading YOU that makes me happy. and only my son can do this all the time...
so there raina raina...
i gave you several compliments
and i meant them!
love this post :)
i have a hard time accepting compliments too, but i give them out a lot.
i get complimented on my smile and my handwriting...
interesting combo... :)
It is definitely SO nice to get complimented... I actually love giving people compliments, hoping that I DID just make their day!
Great post, Raina -- you know I love your porn hair!! Tons and tons! =)
Raina, that's such a good idea! I compliment a lot and usually it's genuine, but sometimes it's because there's nothing else to say. OMG that's so bad. But usually it's genuine. Everything I've said to you is genuine ;)
I get complimented on.... I don't know. I guess smart, pretty, musical, athletic... it's not true though :)
Where you been, girl????????? Getting worried!! E-mail me or make a post here!!
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