A Collection of Compliments

World Compliments Day has been and gone for 2017, but that doesn’t mean we should stop giving – or receiving – compliments.

Now while the world would definitely be a better place (and our relationships would improve too!) if we all made a point of giving more compliments, I think it’s just as important that we receive compliments graciously.

How to Receive a Compliment

Most of us are awkward when it comes to receiving a compliment, and say things like:

• This old thing? I’ve had it for ages!
• Really? I don’t think so!
• It’s no big deal …

WRONG.

The correct way to receive a compliment, is to smile and say two simple words: “Thank You”.

Or do you like making people feel uncomfortable, that they are stupid, and should never have spoken in the first place?! I didn’t think so!

So next time somebody pays you a compliment, repeat after me: Thank you!

In addition to thanking the compliment-er, and being one ourselves, I think it’s also good for us, as compliment-ees, to stop and consciously focus on the compliments we actually receive, from time to time.

Lots of Lovely Compliments

Now please don’t get the wrong idea – I don’t want to sound like a Billy Big-Noter or Bertha Bragger, if I share some of the lovely compliments I have received in the last week or so – I’m using them as an example (and okay, it gives me a bit of a boost too!).

Also, I’m sticking with verbal “In Real Life” compliments, because you lot are always incredibly complimentary here on the blog and on social media and it would turn into a looong post if I recognised each and every one of you. So I will just put my own words into practise and say: “Thank you!”.

• “Seriously impressed” – I hit the “send” button on some website copy I’d been working on, only to have the phone ring within minutes. It was the website designer, to say he was “seriously impressed” with my work. This was as precious as diamonds for me. Working from home means I don’t have any workmates or even a boss to take notice when I do a job well, and clients aren’t always forthcoming either. After all, that’s what they pay me for – though I do try to always “go the extra mile”.
• “You are absolutely adorable!” – This meant so much because it came from my very own hubster. After a divorce, his workmate is, shall we say … a little bitter about women. Hubster set him straight, telling him not all women are bad news – going so far as to say “My wife is absolutely adorable”! Wish I’d been a fly on the wall but it was sweet that he came home and told me all about it.
• “Oh wow, your skin is so soft!” – Miss 20 touched my arm on the weekend and pulled back in surprise, before going on to say: “It’s heaps softer than mine!” Nice to know the moisturiser I slather on each morning, mainly to prevent the dreaded middle aged itch, is working 🙂 .
• “Your elbows look good” – Mr 23 had noticed his own elbows were looking dry and scruffy and asked for my advice, realising that my elbows weren’t coarse or scaly at all. (Moisturising strikes again! Oh and for the record, I *was* using a Nutrimetics body moisturiser until it ran out a couple of weeks ago, and now I’m just using boring old sorbolene cream. It doesn’t smell as nice but seems to still do the job … )

I’m glad I’ve taken the time to save the above compliments for posterity, by recording them in this blog post 🙂 .

Now it’s your turn – share a compliment which you have received recently!