Merriam and Webster, of dictionary fame, define a compliment as “an expression of esteem, respect, affection, or admiration”. Complimenting, then, should come naturally. When our senses take over and we encounter something that suits our fancy, it should only be natural for us to pay a compliment. But how often do we pipe up. And, if compliments should come naturally, why is it I can only think of one instance today where I paid one.
This morning I noticed my colleague had on the most exquisite jeweled bracelet and earrings and I told her so, but was that really the only compliment I handed out? My colleague was appreciative of my sentiment and we went on to discuss her accessories for at least another 10 minutes. My comment on her jewelry choices today made her smile, and at 10:00 in the morning on a Thursday, that’s not bad. And in return, she paid a compliment right back at me. Totally unexpected, she noted how she liked my funky flowered fuchsia shirt. While I’d previously worn the shirt, today, out of thin air, she complimented me on it. And it, too, made me smile.
Compliments, whether big or small, can go a long way. They can turn a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day, into something fantastic. We should all compliment three people, at least three people, a day. But don’t compliment just to compliment. Compliment because you mean it. And mean it. Because when someone pays you a compliment, whether you’re expecting it or not, it can really make your day.
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