I have been thinking a lot about compliments. Do you think they mean more when they don't come all the time? I mean when you really earn a compliment, work really hard and accomplish something, do they mean more? I didn't grow up in a time when everybody got a trophy or a ribbon. I grew up when there were winners and losers, when only the winners got an award.
I always did well in school, that was my thing...being the brain. So, in some classes an A was pretty meaningless, I didn't have to work very hard to get it, but in other classes I had to really struggle and work hard to achieve a good grade, sometimes not even an A. I don't remember a lot of compliments for good grades from my parents. Should they have been doled out more freely or should it have been harder to earn a compliment?
So, I guess what I am wondering is: Are compliments more precious when they are a bit rare?
I do think so, especially in a professional situation. Now...from my husband...I'll take them as often as he wants to give them because they are all sincere.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I guess you can never get enough compliments from your guy. The department head I have written about is fond of saying, "I'm so glad you're here" to me. I think it is genuine and heartfelt since I ease a lot of his burden. By the way, I am mixing it up with the student who beats himself in the head. I went really dominant on him tonight and told him that beating himself up was not productive he needs to just get to work and get his work done. I also threw in a few compliments during class that made him smile. I really want to smack him upside the head like Gibbs in NCIS does and say, "You are not allowed to degrade yourself!"
DeleteIMO... I think it depends on who is giving the compliment! If my mom is giving it... yeah it's nice... but if dad is giving it you know you really did something!!
ReplyDeleteI just stumbled onto your blog.. nice to meet you! ;o)
Hiya, Mikki! Thanks for commenting. Yeah, I think the rarer compliments, like from a dad, so mean more...
DeleteI think a compliment is precious anytime it's genuine, whether it's something that happens often or not. I probably appreciate compliments the most when I'm caught off guard by them, when they're unexpected.
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