One warm summer evening a few months ago, I stood in the express lane at a grocery store. Everyone was in a rush, as it must have been about 5pm. People were digging through their purses for credit cards and the line was moving rapidly. I suddenly hear “thank you, have a great evening!” with great sincerity. I looked up. There, was a teenage girl, almost 6 feet tall. She was a beautiful girl, and seemed to be really genuinely kind to the customers, who grunted at her back. As she cashed me out I said to her, “I used to model, and just so you know, you definitely have what it takes!” She looked at me, stunned. She started to tear up slightly and said, “no one has ever said that to me before, thank you so much!” I was shocked that no one had told this beautiful girl that she could model before. To me, it was obvious.
Fear of Complimenting
Many people are afraid to compliment a stranger. I must say that of all the times I have complimented a stranger I usually get a shocked look as they scan me for sarcasm. When they realize it is genuine, their face lights up and they are so sweet. They usually begin a conversation, and half of the time an acquaintanceship builds from it. Whenever I am in a restaurant or I get good customer service with a provider, I always ask them to pass me to a manager to let them know. Many years ago, someone gave a compliment to me as I worked at a popular retail store. I ended up getting more shifts, a raise, and I was able to pay for university a bit easier. All this because one person took the time to compliment my service to my boss.
It Is As Good to Give As It Is To Receive
I must say, giving a compliment feels just as good as receiving one. When I see someone’s face light up because of a compliment, whether it be a friend thanking me for noticing a haircut or that they are looking good after a six month work out, it makes me feel good to know that my words have given them a positive impression. If people take your compliment to heart, it means they value you, your opinion, and what you have to say. That makes the compliment giver feel just as good too!
They Must Know They Are Wonderful!
The beautiful girl who works at the store must know she is beautiful, right? Or the single mother raising four wonderful children, she must know that she is doing an amazing job! Or the 70 year old man, still working hard to provide for his family, he has to know that he is an excellent provider! Right? Wrong! They don’t know, they don’t know, they don’t know! People are quick to pass judgment, to insult others, to think poor thoughts. However, a compliment is few and far between. Let these people know that they are great, whether it be something simple as noticing a nice hair cut, to thanking those who have made a difference in your life, whether it has been yesterday, a year ago, or twenty years ago. We need to hear the art of a compliment. One can live a month off of one compliment. It is our fuel to keep trying. Notice that your friend has reached their ten pound mark while trying to lose fifty pounds? Let them know! Your kind voice maybe the guidance of the next forty!
Compliments must be genuine, intuitive, and meaningful. Compliments spread quickly, and if you give one to one person, rest assured that one compliment will be reciprocated to others very quickly. We must put positive energy and feeling back to others, and allow them to thrive from that positive vibe.
Like an artist applies paint to his blank canvas, a compliment paints beautiful colours onto one’s soul, brightening up their painting for the world to see. So get your paintbrushes and start noticing the beautiful realities which is other people, and let them know their potential or greatness, through the art of a compliment.
