Compliment Challenge

Here’s a quotation from Mark Twain I’ve been thinking about lately. The compliment that helps us on our way is not the one that is shut up in the mind, but the one that is spoken out. I really like that, and I’ve been thinking about that because of a thing that a lot of my friends are doing on Facebook. and I don’t know if it’s become viral or if it’s just my pals, but people have been posting in their status, “Comment on this thread and I’ll give you a compliment.”

And, you know, so people just say, “What’s up?” And the person who did the original post gives them a compliment. And it may seem corny, but these have been the most touching threads on Facebook that I’ve seen in a long time. And people just eat it up because we all like to hear compliments. You know, I like that quite a bit. I really do. And it helps explain the Mark Twain quote, which I wasn’t quite getting, but it’s the, when you think something nice about somebody, you should say it because it’s better if they hear it. Right. Right. Yeah. That’s really good.

Because there is a jokiness, like this perpetual need to be funny and a real disavowal of being earnest on social media. Like if you’re earnest, you’re made fun of, you’re belittled. And thats that annoys me because I feel that there should be a little more earnestness in social media, a little more like real life.

Yes.

Like being utterly genuine and not everything doesn’t have to be a joke.

Like not trying to do one upping.

Yeah, I completely agree with you.

The irony is that these are three of the funniest people I know. They’re all improvisers, but these are completely serious threads and they are so touching. I can’t tell you.

The improvisation in their lives have something to do with the ability to be honest to other people and to actually just think of themselves in someone else’s shoes. What would make her day, right? What would make her feel good that is true about her that I’ve been holding back?

Right. I think the key thing is what’s true about them. It’s not like thinking of something nice to say. You know, if somebody is your friend on Facebook, you must appreciate something about them. And it’s been this wonderful exercise watching them do it and then watching people react.

That’s a really good idea.

Give someone a compliment today.

See what happens.

Yeah.

And you said that so well, Grant.

You said it.

You have a way of articulating things that just blows my mind.

I am so glad that you were able to find your socks and your shoes today, Martha.

Well done.

I have another pair just like this one at home. One pair by the front door, one pair by the back door.

Yeah, with one of each.

Yep.

877-929-9673.

Or send your compliments to words@waywordradio.org.