“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”

Leo Buscaglia

This morning, a lady co-worker who’s been out for a while due to surgery, told me that I look good in our uniform. Most times, I wear a navy blue skinny jeans to work, to match our navy blue shirts. Today, I wear the complete set, which is the khaki cargo pants and the top.

Actually she was not the first one to compliment me on our uniform. There’s four more ladies who either said, I look cute in it or the uniform looks good on me. Another feel good compliment that I get a lot of times, I look ten or so years younger than my actual age. I’d like to credit my Filipino genes to this one but somehow, me forgetting how old I really am might be the culprit. Going back to the uniform thing, of course, I’m flattered. Who wouldn’t want to look good in a cleaning uniform? Ha ha.

Kidding aside, are you the complimenting type? Do you tell people what you like in them?

“The happiness of life is made up of minute fractions – the little, soon forgotten charities of a kiss or a smile, a kind look or heartfelt compliment.”

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

I remember an older co-worker (who happened to be a guy), who makes it a point to see me every morning before our work day starts, just to talk. When it was time for him to retire, he told me that he likes talking to me because it makes him feel good…kind of brighten up his day. Now, please don’t look at it as a flirty thing. Because, I really consider him a a friend and I’m sure he look at me the same way.

And then there was a lady that I used to work with, who is so upfront and honest, that only a few people liked her. Her honesty, didn’t gain her too many friends. I like her honesty, but only to a certain point. She’s the type who would tell you if you’re fat or too skinny. I mean she noticed everything and would tell you otherwise, sometimes to a point too harsh for some.

Mark Twain said he could live for two months on a good compliment. With this one (below), I think it could last me a lifetime.

And there’s this very good and dear friend of mine, who years ago, told me that I am the sweetest and the most genuine person he’s ever known (or was it, he ever met?) And to this day, whenever I feel like people don’t see me or appreciate me for who and what I really am, I think about what he said.

Different people, different circumstances but what they said, left something in me that could either make or break.

I do my best to be careful with my words. And I compliment whenever I could. I remember telling this young guy at the dorm that I work at – one day – when he was wearing a suit, that he looked dashing. It caught him off guard that I could sense his awkwardness, all he could managed to do was laugh. I like seeing the students reactions when I compliment them, because seeing them smile or cheer up, makes me feel good and cheer up as well.

My parents told me that I look good in everything that I wear. Up to this day, they think I still do.

I always believe that our words and actions matter. Most times, we are quick to critic and judge but are slow to praise and compliment. Quick to anger but slow to apologize. Quick to deny but slow to admit. Quick to hate but slow to forgive.

In my work I’ve met people who passed me like I am invisible. And there’s those whose faces lit up when they see me down the hallway. You see, no words was said, but their actions impacted me in more ways than one.

Whether we like it or not, admit or deny it…we can and we do make a difference in someone’s life. It doesn’t matter if it’s in passing, by accident or intentional. The question is, would we rather make or break?

The choice is ours.

What about you, what are your feel good stories?

“The greatest compliment that was ever paid me was when one asked what I thought, and attended to my answer.” 

Henry David Thoreau