A friend and I have been talking about giving compliments, and how they might be taken in an awkward way, but I’m going with – just say the nice thing. You might feel strange, but it’s got to have a good result most of the time.
Case in point: We had a little get-together at Annette’s house tonight, and being an adventurous soul (sorta), I decided to walk. (It’s not that far.) It was good, because I had a little wine, and it’s always safer to walk home than to drive.
So, walking back home I passed a house that had its stereo cranked up really loud, and stopped to wonder about that. Then I realized that is was a trumpet solo, then realized that it was a person really playing a trumpet. It was beautiful. I stood there on the sidewalk in the snowy cold and listened to two vaguely familiar hymns, then it started with a very soulful version of “How Great Thou Art”. I decided to say something and walked up to the door to ring the bell. The music stopped briefly, then continued to the end. I rang again, and an old man answered the door. (Whew. Not a muderer.)
“I was walking by and have been standing out here listening to you for a few minutes and I just wanted to tell you that it sounds beautiful.” He smiled and said that he plays every so often at the nursing home, and that his wife had passed away about a year ago, so he likes to play. “Well, this was the highlight of my night,” I told him.
“That’s what keeps me going,” he said as I walked away. Say the nice thing. You’ll feel good, too.
Oh, that warmed my heart! Now I know I’m going to have a great day!
It’s different when you’re a single man. Everything you say can be taken to have a subtext. I would love to complement a woman on her beautiful eyes, but that’s a pick-up line. I don’t want a date; I just want to say her eyes are pretty…
Yeah, you’re hosed. But I say that in a most complimentary way! 😉
Yeah Brad – watch out when complimenting a woman on her shiny buttons!
Lauren – I got a warm fuzzy in my heart when I read your story. I love when we can make old people feel good – that’s the best warm fuzzy of all. 🙂
I’m not sure I agree. If someone told me I had nice eyes I wouldn’t think they were hitting on me. I would just feel flattered. It’s always nice to hear something nice about yourself.
I agree too kiwe. That’s just Brad’s excuse so he doesn’t have to compliment anyone…remember, it’s all about him…
And kiwe, I’m sure you do have very nice eyes!
What a sweet thing to do Lauren. Have a great day!
Compliments, like packages in the mail, are the best. BEST. 😀
Compliments, like packages in the mail, are the best. BEST.
Those two things alone can make the worst of days the brightest – giving or receiving!
YAY for happy thoughts!! 😀
So, does it help to have a “little” wine first?
Lauren – you should offer to go with that man some time to the nursing home and play your Uke! That would be awesome!
I’m proud of you!
Lauren, are you an angel? What a wonderful story!! I’m all verklempty now!!
And hey, the next time I get carried away singing in my kitchen & the door bell rings…I’ll definately answer it now!!
Can’t
stand
it
any
longer…
Now that you’re sober, are you going to go back to see if the guy was really playing a kazoo?
You held out on that joke for an admirably long time! What if I went back and it was an empty lot? Erm…..
lol!
Great post Lauren. I am sure that man had a great night because of you. You just made the world a better place!
What a lovely thing to have done! I feel delighted to have gotten to read about it (I know that sounds strange, but it’s true).
Michele sent me over to LandL today to check out your lovely post. What a nice thing to do and a good reminder of why we are all here.
You think if I play my tuba, someone will knock on my door?
I can hear it now. Knock, knock, knock. (I open the door) Neighbor: “Would you stop making that horrible noise!!!”