Hi everyone! How have you guys been lately! I know I haven't been around much, but I'm hoping to change that. I have so many emails from all of you with new things to post, and I just haven't made the time to do it. But I hope you know that you all (and this blog) are super important to me! :) I can feel a change in myself when I'm posting regularly. I feel happier and less cranky. So that alone should be incentive enough to do it, right? Right!
Many of you know that I have trouble talking to strangers. Starting conversations with people I don't know gives me anxiety, even if it's to help them out or do something kind. It's a wall I've been trying to get over for a while now. And I can tell that I've been progressing.
Yesterday morning while waiting for my warm morning beverage at Starbucks, a fashionable girl walked in and as she passed she said, "Oooh, I love your boots!" This absolutely made my day because I had just bought the boots last Friday. And isn't that the best? When you buy something new and you get a compliment right away? It made me feel like my decision to buy them was completely justified. Anyway, we chatted a little bit about where I got them and shopping options in the city. It was a delightful conversation with someone I had never met before!
Today's Assignment: Compliment a Stranger
Sure, it's easy to compliment a coworker or a family member or a friend. Going out of your way to compliment a stranger? Not quite as easy! (At least for me.) So I'm encouraging all of you, and myself, to go out there this week and find a stranger to compliment. I guarantee you will make their day! How many times have you walked down the street and though, "I love that girl's bag," or "What a great haircut," or "She has great style." And how many times have you shared that with the person? Just try it! Once! And I'd love to hear the reaction you got in the comments section of this post.
I know so many of you email me saying how much you love the concept of this blog, but it's up to you to take that concept and incorporate it into your everyday life. I hope that you'll start with this assignment! I'm going to overcome whatever social anxiety I might have in my gut and give it a shot myself. I promise!
Have a spectacular day!
17 comments:
Oh, I do this all the time! This past Friday I walked into a restaurant and the waitress had really nice skin, so I just told her, "Wow, you have beautiful skin!" She practically started glowing. :) So whenever I notice something really nice I try to tell the person, because I know it can make someone's day! :)
I do this quite a lot too. I work in retail, so I'm always seeing ladies with super cute outfits, purses, etc. It gets way easier with time. I found that if I'm feeling down about myself, I tend to not do it as much. But everyone always appreciates hearing it!
Complimenting strangers is actually rather easy for me, because it's nothing more than a two-sentence exchange. ("I like your hair!" "Thank you!") I didn't realize that, though, until people started complimenting me about my smile (several years ago), so now I always try to pay it forward. This is a great blog entry. I hope many take it to heart.
This is a great assignment. I don't do it often enough but I'm going to start now because I know it feels SO good when people compliment me randomly!
I actually do this a lot! It feels great to make someone smile. Their faces just light up!
Wow, you girls are good! I need to be more like you all! :)
While I do compliment people I know, I don't tend to compliment strangers.
Only a couple of days ago, I did compliment a stranger though. She was walking along a local beach and picking up rubbish as she went. I was sitting on the beach watching her and was so grateful for what she was doing, I decided to say something. She was visibly appreciative of it and we had a laugh because she said the bending over was good exercise for her. It was a short but lovely exchange.
Honey, I do that all the time! There are plenty of "strangers" out there each and every day. I love to give them compliments and watch them smile! Especially the ones who have that "look" that says "I'm having the most horrible day." What a pleasure to turn their frown upside-down! :)
You're right...I need to not keep the appreciation to myself and start letting people know I think they are awesome!
Yay..this is such a great idea!! I recently tried this..at a childrens event...i went up and complimented the mother and daughter for the daughters dancing. They were both "huh" ...the reaction reminded me of how this habit really needs to adopted by more and more people.
I think this article needs to be given some attention
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89164759&sc=nl&cc=es-20080417
I'm just like you, I find it hard to talk to strangers, must try harder, and I was absolutely thrilled when a strange lady came up to me and said 'I love your hair'. As I'm 50+ with my hair in plaits (braids) it gave me a real buzz. Definitely must pass on the good feeling.
I think the Christmas holidays make us remember the past and family times. I believe it would be nice to give others a piece of what we love most about the holidays. Whether that be a cookie recipe or just a tradition that makes Christmas special to you. When my mother past away she left behind a whole bunch of costume jewelry so I wrapped the sets up in Christmas paper and gave them to the ladies at the retirement center. I don't know if they enjoyed them but I would like to think that something my mother loved was pasted on to others who might love them as well. We should always pass on love even if only in a small way or story.
Only 13 comments on a Nice Assignment, I see why you feel participation may be down. This assignment has been running through my head since you posted it, but I'm really going to make an effort to do it today!
If I see someone who I think looks amazing or is wearing something really fabulous, I always tell them so - mainly because I spent so many years during high school and college feeling cripplingly insecure and I know the difference that a random, unprompted compliment can make.
I got one myself the other day, a couple of boys came up to me and told me that my new purple and grey striped tights looked great, and my 'Police Line - Do Not Cross' bag was cool too - it made my day. I was grinning furiously for the next hour or so.
Oh how brilliant - this is an excellent blog. Wish I'd thought of it myself. I always try to say something nice (if it's true). People need to be appreciated more - it makes the world a nicer place. Well done!
easy peasy.
I'd been watching for someone who looked down that I could give a compliment to without any luck. So today when I saw the cutest girl with great purple hair (framing her face) I finally blurted out my compliment! She gave a great thank you and continued on her way. Her friend had a great red hair too.
I'm glad I could share this with you guys!
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