So as I was looking at this cross-stitched sampler I made decades ago, and which I periodically hang on the wall over the kitchen stove, it prompted me to search out an old post I wrote which was inspired by it. Even though I'm repeating the blog post, it will be new to all of you current readers as I originally wrote it when I had a grand total of perhaps two readers, one of whom was my daughter.
The title of the post was:
Tell Me I'm Beautiful
An acquaintance of ours, who was a talented and well-respected
physician (the last I knew he was running an AIDS hospice in the middle of New York City), stopped in briefly one day to pick up a part for his wood stove that we had ordered for him. (We were dealers for Jotul wood stoves at the time.)
As he was standing in the doorway, I could see he was looking across the kitchen and reading my sampler. He got a little, half-smile on his face, nodded his head slowly and said, "Ain't that the truth."
This was not a vain man who needed constant reassurance in regard to his physical attractiveness, but a well-established, highly intelligent, professional person who one would assume had all the confidence in the world. And yet, the basic need for appreciation and reassurance of one's "beauty," be it of physical body or soul, was there just as strongly as in any of us.
Much of the time we are all too willing to loudly and frequently make fun of imperfection in body shape, grouse about personality short-falls, voice our irritation regarding the habits of those around us. But how often do we take the time to pay someone a compliment?
"You have the most attractive smile."
"You're such a truly kind person."
"Your delightful laugh is so uplifting."
"You have the ability to make people feel loved."
When wouldn't it make any of us feel wonderful to be given a compliment? If we would all make a conscientious effort to give a compliment to one person each day for one week, I have a sneaky suspicion it would not only make a lot of people feel a momentary warm glow . . . but more likely make them feel pretty darn chirky for the whole day.
So go ahead now, and tell me I'm beautiful.
(Oh, wait. I don't think it works very well if one asks for the compliment. Darn.)
18 comments:
But you ARE beautiful! Thanks for the reminder to notice people's beauty. I'll do it every day for a week.
Lovely post. Food for thought.
Great post - my favorite thought is that we don't know what someone else is going through and a smile might just make their day. Sometimes I try purposely to make people smile just so I can see the wonderful changes in their faces. Often they look so serious and often sour looking,but I know that it is not always grumpiness, just concentration, but I like to see the change anyway.
What a lovely post to come back to! And yes--you are a beautiful person! And that header photo is darn beautiful too! Happy Fall, dear lady. Hope you get all your "to-do"s done AND have time to enjoy this special time of year.
We've had our best fall foliage in years and I'm missing out on all of it--well, aside from what I see out my windows. Sigh
But at least I'm finally UP and able to pester YOU---HA!
:D..
Loved this post. You are pretty awesome!
Inside and out, tootsie. Inside and out. :)
Mollie - Every day for a week . . . what a huge difference that could make in the lives of many!
tpals - Thank you!
JoAnn - I find it so sad that those people who are often sour looking don't even know it. Maybe if we can coax enough smiles out of them, they'll realize it actually feels better to smile!
Sue - Thank you for your (usual) sweet comments. Now be a good girl and get all better soon!
Kristina - I'm glad you like the post . . . and although I don't think I'm "awesome," thank you so much.
Susan - You flatter waaaay too much.
This one was well worth repeating! I received two very mundane compliments that just made me feel so good.
One was recent and one was several years ago and yet they were both the same and from my two sisters.
They told me I always made my house so welcoming and homey. They couldn't have said anything more pleasing to me!.
Thank you for reminding us to pass it along!
Thanks, gld! Yes, those "mundane" compliments can mean an awful lot. I, too, remember one from years and years ago. I've never forgotten it. I was just a teenager and suffering from not feeling pretty enough or having enough confidence. I was at a family funeral and my mom and I went to say hello to two older female family members I'm sure I hadn't seen in many years. One of them said of course she remembered me . . . and I still had such a pretty smile. That simple compliment has buoyed me up many times over the years. And caused me to smile at other people . . . which maybe has made them feel better.
I'm absolutely sure your home is VERY welcoming and homey. That happens when women are happy homemakers!
Mama Pea,
Great post, thank you for re-posting it!!! I make it a point to compliment at least one person daily. That compliment may just make that persons day.
Hi Mama Pea. That is a great post and worth repeating. I've been a little dry on material too, but I'm off work from the day job for a little more than a week (policy change - No vacation carry-over allowed) and will have some good stuff here soon.
Sandy - Without ever having met you in person, it's easy to see that you're a very kind, considerate, compassionate gal who always thinks of the other person and takes the time to give those much appreciated compliments.
Mark - Always enjoy your posts when you find time to get them up. I think we all realize you're a busy guy. So when can you retire from the day job? (Hee-hee, you'll be even busier then!!)
Post a Comment