Yesterday as I stood on the curb, waiting for the light to change, I spied a man in uniform across the street from me, also waiting for his turn to walk. There’s a four-way walk signal on this corner now, so the wait can be long. He kept wanting to take a step when the light changed, but he was always premature – it wasn’t our turn yet – he’d smile sheepishly at me, like he’d made a foolish mistake. I smiled back.
He had deep, boyish dimples on both cheeks, but I think he was close to fifty in age. I’m not sure what sort of service uniform it was, but the jacket was gold, his pants were navy, and his black boots were super-shiny. They were gleaming at me, all the way from across the street.
When it was finally our turn to walk, he smiled at me again, and as we were passing each other, I said, “I like your boots, they’re really shiny!” and he busted out laughing so hard, I thought he might fall down.
“I just shined them!” he said, incredulously.
“Well, it shows! Very nice, sir.” I said, and we kept on walking.
A couple of seconds later, I heard him yell to me, “Thanks, that was a nice thing to say.”
I turned back and shrugged my shoulders, and waved goodbye.
To say something complimentary to another person takes hardly an effort at all. Kind words can brighten another person’s day considerably. And it feels good to do it. So, pass it on…
Complimented someone lately? What are you waiting for?
Isn’t it funny that you can remember a handful of compliments from strangers without even straining? For some reason, those really do stick with you. To this day, every time I floss my teeth I remember a woman who told me I had a lovely smile and beautiful teeth while we were in the checkout line at a bookstore. It’s like what Racheal said above; those are the compliments that really do somehow feel more ‘true’.
So glad I read this today. What good is admiring a woman’s haircut if I don’t tell her? And so I will. 🙂
It’s so simple. What a great gesture. I’ve tried to do this myself. Haven’t done it in a while. Time to get back on the karma horse of random kindness. 🙂
all the time, darling
I believe in it so much. It lifts the spirit of both the giver and the receiver.
I am pretty sure I wear colour partially because people say ‘so great to see colour on such a dull day” xoxoxo
and I love shiny boots!
Yes! Because they’re just bald comments that come from a place of admiration somehow. I think that’s just good energy to put out in the world, don’t you?
Me too! And I get my fair share of strangers saying nice things to me too – passing it on it a good thing. 🙂
I’ll bet it’s because you look receptive to what someone is about to tell you, Alice – I’ll bet your eyes are very bright indeed… I think life IS made up of the details, and too often under-appreciated. Yes.
Sometimes those comments are the most meaningful: there’s no bias, no obligation, just a simple observation.
I love randomly finding something nice to say to strangers. I told a lady in the grocery store once that I loved her dress, which I did, and she beamed for the rest of her excursion. Pass it on! It makes everyone feel good!
I love those patrons who come in with random compliments for me. In the past couple of weeks I’ve had lovely people tell me I have bright eyes and that I’m always in a good mood. Why not pass it on? I do tend to point out specific things – a spectacular necklace, a gorgeous colour, etc. The details. They are so under-appreciated, I think.
No, YOU are!! (Thanks, babe…)
you’re kick ass….that’s my compliment!
Yes, people often seem so surprised… and then they smile. That’s rather nice! 🙂
you’re so right. it’s funny, too, that when you do compliment someone they look at you waiting for the “kicker” so to speak. i guess that says how much we forget or don’t say anything nice anymore.