The Most Unexpected Compliment I Ever Got

Here's the 6th suggestion from Oprah's site that every woman should write down:

The most unexpected compliment you ever got.

Compliments. This is an area of discomfort for this empty nester. And it has always been that way.

I do not have any trouble handing out compliments. I do it daily. Multiple times. I only hand them out when they are warranted but I work with so many wonderful folks and our students are so amazing, that I find myself handing out compliments left, right, center and every other way imaginable. This is not difficult.

Accepting a compliment, on the other hand, is not easy for me. I don't like to be acknowledged and I always prefer to be in the background. Behind stage as opposed to center stage. Compliments in my direction make me uncomfortable.

When I am complimented, I say thank you and try to end the conversation ASAP. Inside, I'm dying to move on. I don't want to acknowledge the compliment. I don't want to discuss it further. I don't want to ever again do anything that may cause that person to send another compliment my way.

I know when I've done my best. I know when I'm doing my job well. I know when I've accomplished something. I know when I've had a good idea. I don't want to be singled out and held up as an example. Which is just the thing that happens with some compliments.

Like the cyberbullying newsletter I put out to our parents last year at school. The principal went nuts and sent it out all over the place, I was mentioned in the superintendent's weekly letter and our district superintendent came to a faculty meeting to acknowledge my efforts and make a presentation.

I nearly died.

Unexpected? To say the least! Deserved? No. I wanted our parents to be aware of cyberbullying and so I put it out there. That's it.

I think I just have a problem with being gracious when I don't see the need for the accolade.

Do y'all have trouble accepting compliments? What was your most unexpected one?

Complimentary List

It's Monday and time to join Stasha over at The Good Life for Monday Listicles! Each week Stasha gives us a theme for our lists. This week, we have the 10 COMPLIMENTS theme. All you have to do to join the fun is click on the link or the button!

10 COMPLIMENTS

1. Kindergarten teachers. Good lord but they have a hard, exhausting job. They are on their feet all day long and have to listen to crying and whining and tattling and, if they do get a half a second to sit down, they have to do it in a chair made for really short people. They have to tie shoes and zip/unzip book bags and say the same things over and over and over and over again and again and again and again. They have to open small bags of chips and milk cartons and juice boxes. They have to endure snotty noses being wiped on them and coughs and sneezes right in their faces. And they do it all day long in the midst of teaching the little darlings how to say their letters and count and be respectful and be a friend. At the very least they deserve to be commended every single day.
2. Maintenance workers. I don't care where you work/shop/whatever, if you don't appreciate the job these people do, you are completely out of line. These are the people who keep things from falling apart completely. They keep things running. They put their hands in places we would never even consider putting ours. They fix things that break so that we aren't inconvenienced--at least not for long. They build things, paint things, put things together. And they do it all without receiving any appreciation and very little pay. 
3. Besties. There's nothing quite like a best friend. These folks stick with us through thick and thin. They love us when other people don't. They're better than family because they stick around because they want to, not because they have to. They aren't afraid to correct us when we're wrong, they cry with us when we're hurt, they cheer us up when we're sad, they take phone calls from us at ungodly hours, they laugh at our jokes. When we're in a really bad mood and yell at them, they just wait it out and forgive us without being asked. They make us feel like we are the smartest, wisest, prettiest, best at everything we do and they never ask anything in return. 
4. Grandparents. Grandparents are the absolute BEST. In our grandparents eyes, we can do no wrong. And, even if we do, they love us anyway. They do things for us that our parents won't, they laugh at our silly jokes, they are sure that we are the best kids in the world EVER. They take us anywhere we want to go, they make the best food in the world and they are always smiling. They love unconditionally from the moment we take our first breath until the day they are no longer with us. Though I believe they are still loving us from Heaven.
5. Daughters. I always wanted daughters, even when I was a kid. And I got 4 of them. And they are the BEST. Daughters are fun and funny. They are smart and energetic and a pure delight to be around no matter what phase they're going through. They are talented and skilled and they know how to have fun. They aren't afraid of showing their love for us or their disdain--they are honest. A smile from them can lift the weight of the world from your shoulders and melt your heart like hot butter. A frown from them can break your heart. Their laughter is contagious and the pride they bring you is insurmountable. Daughters are perfectly wonderful.
6. Brothers. Brothers can get on your last nerve and then, turn right around and have you laughing so hard you nearly wet yourself. They are your protectors even when you don't want them to because you're in high school and the people they're protecting you from are your dates. They take your future husband for a walk and let him know that if he ever hurts you, they will have to answer your brother. And it won't be pretty. They treat you like a princess from day one and teach you self-defense. They give the best hugs and never let you down. 
7. Computer geeks. Call them what you will, I love them. And I have a favorite. He's Birdie's boytoy, Evwardo. He is so computer savvy you wouldn't believe it. And he always comes to my rescue with a computer issue. As a matter of fact, he's there for all of us when we have a computer issue. More importantly, he's there for Birdie. He's got her back and thinks she's the greatest. He's a keeper. (Ok, that one got a bit off topic).
8. Sons-in-law. I only have one right now and he's a gem. A true gem. SILs take care of our daughters and appreciate them and love them. They put up with our daughters' quirks and moods. They do all they can to make our daughters happy. They support and encourage our daughters dreams and goals. They show our daughters compassion and loyalty and love. Or, at least, ours does. :)
9. Musicians. These people could be complimented on their talent alone. But there's so much more than talent here. Musicians have the ability to calm an angry soul, pick me up when I'm down, motivate the intensity of my workouts. It can bring me joy, fun, peace and even stimulate romance. Nothing brings me out of a bad or sad mood quicker than music. Nothing can move me quite like music can. There are so many different genres to choose from and there's always something that does just what I need it to do. And music, unlike people, will never let me down.
10. Pets. In my case, dogs. A dog is just the greatest. They love us unconditionally even when we're being total jerks. They let us know they love us even when we think no one else does. They celebrate our happiness with us and snuggle with us at night. They wait patiently for a pat or a treat or just a bit of love. They look so darn cute when they stand there with that squeaky ball in their mouth with those big brown eyes asking you to please play with them. They aim to please and, in a relationship where we have the best deal, they don't seem to mind.      

Enjoy your Monday! You might as well, it's here whether you want it to be or not. :)