I was walking in the cemetery with the hound this afternoon, contemplating the brevity of life as I meandered among the tombstones and stopped to watch a leaf flutter to the ground (not really: I was actually thinking about my hair, which I STILL HATE), when I came upon a lady walking and looking at the headstones. As it turns out, her pa is buried there and we chatted. I had done a wedding for her cousin my first year in the parish.
I noticed that my companion seemed a bit tired and certainly hard-working. She was wearing what I am assuming might have been a work uniform of black pants and white blouse, and she had lost a lot of her hair.
I was mesmerized by her eyes, though: wide-set, huge, hazel eyes. Very kind, very soft. Extrarordinarily beautiful.
We talked a bit, and Max and I walked, and then we caught up again and talked a bit more.
And because I felt embarrassed to say it, and never found quite the right moment, I left that little encounter without telling that lovely lady how beautiful her eyes are.
Which I regret.
So let me try to partially redress this error by reminding all of us that the time to give a genuine compliment is ALWAYS. If you think something nice about someone, let it come outchya mouth.
Nice thoughts are not like cookies in the cookie jar; you can never eat the last one. Give ’em away.
What a fantastic sentiment. I frequently set a goal for myself to give at least three sincere compliments a day. You can see that it adds a little extra brightness to someone’s day.
I used to worry that I would sounds like a suck-up if I gave people compliments, but it really does perk up someone’s day when they are given sincerely.
My kids think I’m crazy when I compliment a stranger, but how good does it feel when someone stops you on the street to tell you he/she loves your scarf, etc.? It feels awesome!