write
Mark Twain
Most of us are not like this at all, are we? We're more comfortable shying away from compliments and usually add a “yes, but”.
I love that outfit you're wearing. Thanks but, it was a gift, it was on sale, it was just a fluke.
Congratulations on your uplifiting presentation. Thanks but, the stars aligned for me today that's all.
You get the picture. Why is that? Why are we so hesitant to shine? To just say thanks, and then just stop. Why do we need to qualify who we are?
What we all need to do is Gracefully Receive a Compliment although it might not come easily to us. As this article says, a compliment is a gift. Let's not refuse it in the spirit it was given.
The other day I was walking through a shopping mall when a complete stranger remarked on my curls. Now let me tell you, my curls have been a sore spot for most of my years. Growing up in the era of straight long hair (à la Mod Squad), I struggled rolling it on coffee cans to stave off the Montreal humidity. Curls were no fun at all!
Now here was a woman, who admired my disarray. Who overlooked the gray, wiry threads that poked this way and that. I was shocked by her comment but I stopped myself from replying in my usual way.
"Thanks," I said and smiled as I kept walking. You don't often get an unexpected gift, it would be rude to refuse it I think! Perhaps with that gray hair, I am learning something.
How do you respond when you are complimented? (Tweet This)
The gift I couldn't refuse, complimented by a stranger. (Tweet This)
