Moments D711: Unexpected Compliments

Sometimes friends can really, truly surprise you.  Today was one of those days for me.

After another long day of peering at a mega-spreadsheet, it was finally complete and ready to share with the executive team.  A moment to celebrate given all the energy that has been poured into it over the past weeks (months?).  My way of celebrating was to take a well earned break and walk away from my desk for once.

Being near the end of the work day and Friday, I wandered into Arizona's office.  The rest of the team had ventured out to have a department lunch with our co-worker who was laid off back in February.  As much as I would have liked to join in on the festivities, the timing wouldn't allow it.  I wanted to find out how she was doing and catch up with Arizona as I really hadn't had much time all week to pause.  After briefly sharing how lunch was, it wasn't long before we were sharing stories of working out, aching muscles and results from the workouts.  It was within this conversation that Arizona dropped a pretty big (unexpected!) compliment my way.

An instant flush of heat hit me.  I was embarrassed, I was grateful, I was surprised by her words.  At first, we squabbled a bit about her compliment (okay, I did, and she firmly held her ground!).  In the end, there was nothing I could do but say thank you while scratching my head.  (After all, in my mind, all I could hear was "really?")

Sometimes the strangest things surface from your friends.

Sometimes it's impossible to argue against their logic.

Sometimes it's just good to take a compliment, even if your friend misses the point of the conversation being about sharing a personal frustration.  Her point:  I may be personally frustrated, but others tend to be more so.  Arizona reminded me to be grateful that I'm not in the "more so" category.

Okay girlfriend.  Message received.

Moments being shocked at a compliment.

Moments reminding you why you love your friends.

Moments D408: Compliments

I'm not very good with them. In fact, I shy away from them when and where I can.

Today's moment was a first for me in that I received a compliment from my new business partner that didn't make me uncomfortable. (And yes, that too sounds strange to me, that I have a business partner!)

As I drove home from my class (which ran late!) he and I had a conference. He was feeling anxious. I had answers. His response as we neared the end of our call was to compliment me. He gushed over the tools I am bringing to his new team. It was a tremendous, wordy and deeply genuine compliment. Normally I would shy away from it, bashful almost. Instead, I took it all in stride and didn't even blink when I replied with an equally genuine "thank you" and reminded him that's why I was on his team!

Truly, I think it's the first time I've had such a gushing compliment that I wasn't uncomfortable about. This gave me pause. Why, in this case, was I comfortable with the compliment?

I gave it some thought. It wasn't merely because I was exhausted and not really engaged or paying attention. I was fully engaged and aware of the compliment. The only thing I could determine is that maybe, just maybe I was so open and accepting of the compliment because I believed in it. In this particular case, I believed my business partner's words. I believe in my skill set. I believe in my ability to deliver value to this new team.

Moments of growth.

Moments of awareness.

Moments D233: Inspired

Those that know me, know that I’m not very good at taking compliments. In fact I can be quite awkward and uncomfortable with them.

Today I was completely caught off guard with a compliment. It’s been nearly two years now since I dropped 45lbs and have managed to get myself into the best shape I think I’ve ever been in. (Of course, that being said, I’ve put 8lbs back on, but I’m still in better shape than ever!)

Tonight, one of my co-workers and I were discussing the merits of exercise and eating habits. The lifestyle change and the commitment to it. For me, it was pretty simple. Calories in had to be less than calories out. I worked out daily (even if I was tired, I still dragged myself out of bed and did Yoga on those mornings) for many months, I monitored what I was eating and tried to choose more healthy ways to enjoy food. But I never restricted myself. If I ate a Big Mac (one of my favourite bad treats), then I just made sure I worked that much harder in my workout the next day and cut back on the calories that day.

For me, it worked. I feel better than ever before. I’m less regimented now (thus the 8lbs back), but I’m also feeling as though I’ve settled into a new healthier lifestyle. (too much of anything can be a bad thing!)

Near the end of our conversation I was told that I was an inspiration to others. That there were people in the office that talked about me and my journey to a more fit, healthy me. That this story of mine was inspiring to others to take steps to take better care of themselves. WOW. Who knew. I was pretty surprised to hear this news and it made me smile. What an incredible feeling that gave me. Of course it made me smile.

BONUS here? I think I managed to be less awkward with the compliment too.

Moments to share stories and challenges.

Moments to graciously receive compliments.