Wednesday, January 23, 2013

COMPLIMENTS......Are You a Taker or a Giver?

"Compliments" as discussed with Miss B one day recently when
she was fussing about taking a bath and getting her
hair washed....
No other pictures to follow in this post.....Just my take on
receiving and giving the ever popular
"compliment..."
and what you do to keep yourself feeling young...
You may or may not find this helpful or interesting :)
there is a point to this story....

I explained to B how important it is to always look
your best and smell your best when leaving your home....
forgot that whole "you might be in a accident thing so make sure you have on clean underwear"...
It's all about someone saying something nice to you....
Because who doesn't like to get a compliment...
Then I gave her my Key to Personal Happiness...

When I leave the house I don't go home until I receive
at least one or more compliments....
the daughter can verify this....
Yes crazy I know but it makes for a better day....
I would say my average is 9 for 10.....
it's usually my hair that someone comments on even 
though I have had the same hair cut since high school....
Hey....it works for me....
The best one recently came from a few of the
Greeters at the Georgia Dome....I was even surprised by that one...

First thing you need to know is you have to be a talker....
I will talk to anyone who looks at me crooked...This makes for
a much easier chance of someone saying something nice
to you....
I never leave home without perfume on.....
it never fails...... someone....usually in the meat department at
Publix....... gets a whiff and comments how good the smell is  ....
Then there's the whole back and forth about what it is and how it smells so good on me.....might not smell so good on 
someone else for reasons I don't think anyone knows...

For years I was a big user of Shalimar when the folks would go cruising and bring me back a bottle "duty free"....
those days dried up back in the 80's so I went years without
any scent....then I discovered Clinique's Aromatic Elixir....
Loved it....family and pets hated it.....it used to make the dogs sneeze.....But the shoppers at Publix were drawn to it like flies...
Never went shopping wearing it without a compliment...
 I got carried away at some point by being noticed
and used just a squirt too much.....
a half a squirt is too much of this stuff....so I gave it up....
Daughter then got me Donna Karan's Cashmere Mist...
this elicits lots of compliments because it's recognized by many 
so you then get...."Oh your wearing Cashmere Mist it smells so good"....

A biggie in the compliment department is drive a cute car...
something bright and sporty preferably a convertible...
easier for kind remarks if the top is down...
From toll takers to people stopped at traffic lights...
people who work the drive thru at fast food joints are
prime candidates for a few nice words....
great too because you can get your food and get it home
before it gets cold....compliment accepted and
appreciated...

Then there is the infamous
"Solicited Compliment"

this is when no one is saying anything and your getting tired
and you want to go home.....but....let's try just one more trick....
Usually in a retail establishment this works best....
You find someone who you clearly see is younger
then you but they don't look so good for their age....
This works extremely well with men...and some women
cashiers....people who stand on their feet all day..
You comment on not being able to see whatever.....the receipt..
the little machine that takes your debit card...anything...
You mention that losing your eyesight is a downfall
of getting old.....

To which the person will reply....
"Oh I bet I'm a  lot older then you are".....
it never fails....they are usually at least 5 to 8 years
younger then I am.....
this just happened when the man cashier at Staples said to me
"Oh I'm 58".....to which I quickly upped him with...
"I'm 62"..... 
here it came....
"You need to do whatever it is your doin honey because you don't look
that old".....
Time to go home!!

One last thing.....
I'm really not a shallow person.....although it sounds that way...
No...I love to give compliments just as much as I love
getting them...
Even if you don't mean it you will make some one's day...
I just saw a young cashier in my travels and I noticed she
had on blue nail polish.....Now believe me no one
should wear blue nail polish but she looked tired from
standing all day and didn't look happy....
so I said....
"I love your Tiffany colored nail polish"
Here face lit up with a big smile and she thanked me....
I felt like I made this girls day....
even though her nails really didn't look good at all....
I also always stop to talk to the "cheese guy" at Publix...
and that's just what I call him....
we chit chat and I always try to ask him some cheese related or cooking with cheese question so he feels his job is important...
He seems like this makes him happy our little weekly talks...

So where does this all lead to after reading how I spend my days
out and about.....it really just comes down to this....

If I lie then that means other people lie so basically

I have bad outdated hair.....I smell bad from excessive perfume.........I'm old....
I wear odd clothing....and I talk to strangers who probably think I'm a Nut......


the part about the car is 100% accurate as the daughter has found out....she now is at the compliment end when driving the
 V.W. Bug thru toll plazas and fast food joints....

I figure I'm not really bothering anyone and it makes me
Happy.....you should try it!







15 comments:

Joan said...

Sue - I think you look great today and smell good too :)
I wore Shalimar for awhile and one day in the post office a man told me I smelled nice like coffee cake...lol

Cheri said...

So, what did the Greeters at the GA Dome compliment you on? Your hair or perfume?

Sue...you always look fantastic...no lie. My momma told me if I can't say something nice...don't say anything at all.

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Sue this is one of your funniest posts! I love it! I give lots of compliments because I too think folks need the pick me up. I do like to get them also and my best is the 'age' one!! No cute car, my hair is 'ok' at best and I don't wear perfume (allergies) so I'm left with the age thingy! This made me smile today and I needed that!!

Anonymous said...

It's always good when the cashier or wait staff asks "how are you?" to make eye contact and ask them how they are...they often look surprised you bothered to even answer. And Sue...you look lovely today!

Anonymous said...

That anonymous comment from from Necie.

Peg said...

Sue, this is one of my favorite posts! You are being friendly and outgoing. People who do that make this place a happier world. Even if you only "make their day" for just one person, you have been a blessing to someone and that is a pretty lofty achievement. Even if you grew up in New Jersey, I do believe you have become a true Southern girl with this behavior. Tell your daughter that I said Miss B can learn a lot from her grandmother. I think she needs to spend the whole summer with you in the south!

Sue said...

THANKS GUYS.....AND HOW DID I KNOW THAT WAS YOU NECIE...I WAS GOING TO DELETE THIS POST EARLIER TODAY AS I THOUGHT IT MIGHT COME ACROSS AS A BIT ODD EVEN FOR ME BUT THEN LINDA YOU LEFT THAT COMMENT FOLLOWED BY PEGS LOVELY COMMENT AND I'M SO GLAD I DECIDED TO KEEP IT UP....AND OFCOURSE SINCE YOU ALL KNOW ME YOU KNOW THIS WAS NOT EMBELLISHED....

Marigene said...

Sue, I love this post...I laughed through the whole thing. I will have you know that I have worn blue nail polish as recently as a couple years ago and I am older than you, so I am probably old enough to be that young ladies grandma!
Have a great rest of the week.

Salmagundi said...

You and I are such different personalities. I would go to the end of the earth to avoid conversation with a stranger -- guess that is why blogging has been good for me. I do try to give compliments to those I know -- but strangers, oh no!! Guess I'm not the friendliest of souls. Don't know what in my childhood brought this personality on. But here I am -- I really do like your hairstyle!!!! Sally

Chatty Crone said...

Oh Sue this was funny! I followed it and wondered where we were going with it. Loved it. You are a beautiful lady who is beautiful from the inside out. I love to give people compliments - it makes me feel better then even getting one. True. sandie

NanaDiana said...

I always give compliments to others, too, Sue. I try to find something that I can sincerely comment on though-lol

Great post-and I will talk to just about anyone, too...xo Diana

Ellen said...

I so love how you feel. Sometimes I feel so self conscious that I don't carry myself well. You have inspired me to feel better about myself. Thanks dear blog friend.

Babs said...

Cute post, Sue! Love your hair, and fragrance choices. I used to wear Shalimar and Cashmere Mist, too. Don't we have good taste? :) Well, you do anyway.

Debbie said...

I so know what you mean!!!!
I'm 59, and my hair looks like Janis Joplin now that it's growing out! I've lost some weight, so I can now wear clothes that ARE NOT for "grandma's" (no offense to anyone)anymore. I've been getting compliments, and figure people are thinking...."when is she going to grow up, it's not 1969!!!" But, for now, I'll revisit flared jeans, skinny jeans, and everything in between. As long as my butt-crack isn't showing, I figure I look okay.
xxoo

Fairfield House said...

Oh Sue,
This post made ME happy! It's true, words can make or break a day. So why not be kind every chance you get?
I don't think all compliments are said just to brighten someone's day. I believe your hair looks great and you are the youngest 62 year old I know! Thank you for the smiles.
Your Friend,
Deborah
PS Miss B looks like you! (Look at the little ones with Santa in my 12th day of Christmas post)
PSS Mailed your calendar today! :)