Semi-Charmed Life

Honest Appreciation

I don't receive meaningful compliments on a regular basis, so it's nice to receive one from someone every now and then. I don't fish for compliments though and in general I don't think much of them. I give a polite thank you and continue with the conversation. There are three particular ones though within the past year that have stuck with me. I don't even think they were intended to be compliments, but I took it as such.

Last summer, I was talking to a buddy of mine and he was saying how it's pretty cool that I go out there and pick up different hobbies. He said that it's cool that I get really wrapped up in whatever hobby I'm interested in at the moment. I told him that if anything I'm just a flake when it comes to this stuff. Like a raccoon that's easily fascinated with the next shiny object. I guess what made it cool was that I really don't talk to him on a regular basis so I didn't expect him to really keep up with what's going on with me. He also said it very matter of factly and not in a "wow you're so" great kind of way.

Another time I was chatting with an old buddy of mine. We were great friends when we were younger, and we still are, but we each went our separate ways. I rarely see her but we still chat here and there on occasion, and it's never awkward. When we talk, it's usually online and the conversation is usually very random. Like a stream of consciousness whatever pops into your head type of deal. It's how I talk with everyone, not just her. Anyway, one time when we were talking she made a remark about how it was cool talking to me because I could "keep up." Apparently she's the same when it comes to conversations, and we both lamented on the fact that not everyone was receptive to that because we're the type to just abruptly change topics in the middle of a conversation.

I thought it was cool because I've been told before that I'm just too random in conversations, so it was nice that someone didn't think it was a bad thing.

And finally, several weeks ago I was talking to another friend. She was someone that used to be in my circle of friends, but for various reasons, she does not hang out with us anymore. We don't hang out, but I talk to her from time to time. One time when we were talking and I don't quite remember how she phrased it (weak command of the English language), but she basically said that I'm not fake towards her. I don't think I'm conveying what she said properly, so don't take it as me tooting on my own horn.

I think these three moments are significant to me because these three compliments were not originally said as compliments. Or at least I don't think they were. The typical compliment does not mean much to me. People usually pay a compliment on something superficial, like what you're wearing or the way you look. Or they might compliment you on what a great person you are because you did something nice for them. I appreciated what my friends said because it just seemed like genuine matter of fact honesty. It wasn't said to make me feel good about myself or anything like that.

Til next time.