today is the day to hand out…compliments (an action post.)

“Smiling makes me happy!” beams a little girl about the age of 6. 

“Right now my day is going a lot better,” says a grown man with a big smile across his face. 

Another man stretches a grin from ear to ear and shares “It makes people smile.  It makes people laugh.  It’s all about making people feel better.” 

They’re all talking about the two past students, Brett and Cam, who spent their free time at Purdue University complimenting others.  You’ve probably heard about these two.  They started on their own college campus with a poster board which read “Free Compliments.”  That’s it. 

They simply paid you a compliment as you walked by. 

Can you imagine?  Think about walking out of the grocery store and some guy with a poster board reaches out to you and says, “I like your shoes” or “Nice hair.”  How would you respond?  Would you smile right away? Would it take a few minutes for it to sink in that he really didn’t want anything?

 

And then would you smile? 

The thousands of people touched by Brett and Cam’s kindness have done just that.  It is evident as you read through their blog that they have touched lives and it has cost them nothing.  As a matter of fact, Cam shares, “When people come up after they’ve had a bad day and say ‘thanks for good compliment’ that makes my day.” 

 

When Brett started this compliment-giving mission, he admits that he didn’t know what the response would be, but he know knows that his life is a lot brighter from the experience. 

Compliments…sincere compliments…are so easy to give.  And like love, they don’t exhaust you or take away from who you are.  Instead, something inside of you bubbles up and when you give a compliment, the bubbling fills you with enough energy to give another and another. 

I find it interesting that sometimes we are almost afraid to compliment someone. 

They’re grouchy.  They’re distant.  They’re already happy.  They’re too important.  They seem untouchable.  They intimidate us.  They don’t know we exist.  They are confident. They are insecure. 

They are…human and real and in need of contact and love and compliments as much as the next person.  As much as you and me. 

Brett and Cam went on a ten-city tour the summer of 2009 to see how many people they could touch in a matter of weeks by giving compliments.  These two men changed their corner of the world by simply pointing out positive things they saw in the people around them.

Now it’s your turn.  And I just know you’ll be great at it!  See, I just complimented you and I'm filled with more already…Your eyes are gorgeous when you’re reading!  I am really enjoying our time together.  Thank you for being a part of Today is the Day!  You’re so smart. 

 

I could go on for days…

~ For you ~

Mark Twain once said that he could “live two months on a good compliment.”  I’m not asking you to go without food and water to test this theory, but today is the day you are going to give as many sincere compliments as you possibly can to see what the impact is on those around you. 

 

 Your compliment-giving adventure needs to start from the moment you see another living being until the moment you go to bed.

 

~ Three Easy Steps ~

Make eye contact with the recipient if you are together in person.

 

Find something to compliment that you really mean and be specific.  For instance, say “That shirt looks great on you” versus “You look nice.”  See the difference?

 

Smile when you are delivering the message and after you have said the words.  Don’t feel like you need to keep talking.  Just give your compliment and smile.   

 

~ Compliment Samples ~

The idea you shared today was brilliant. 

Your artwork is stunning.

Whenever I need good advice, I come to you. 

You make me a better person.

Your smile is contagious.  

I have never tasted better cookies than the ones you make.

When I think of all of the great dads I know, you come to mind first.

Whatever you are wearing smells great.

I feel like I could learn so much from you.

You are the most thoughtful friend I have.

I hope that you'll become a part of this experience & decide to follow today is the day as we take our best of intentions & put them into motion to see what big difference our little actions can make together!

Feel free to post your experience here or email me at tinaattodayistheday@gmail.com.

Don't wait too long. After all...today is the day!

today is the day...to pucker up. (an action post.)

Alicia’s co-worker found her way to the office after a great weekend with a guy she met not too long ago through a blind date.  All day she floated around the office singing stories of their conversations and playfulness, their flirting and their first kiss.  At first Alicia was interested, but began growing tired of what felt like a full day’s work listening to her friend gush about this new guy. 

As the workday grew to a close, Alicia found herself daydreaming at her desk about the day she met her husband.  It was nearly eight years ago.  They had met at a political event and hit it off right away.  Their first meeting led to a first date and then to more dates and then finally, a first kiss. 

Her co-worker’s ramblings left her thinking about when her relationship was new.  The little hairs on her arms got tingly thinking about how they used to come at each other with passion and desire – how they used to sit on the couch kissing for what seemed like hours forgetting that one of them should be going home.  She remembered experiencing her husband through those kisses, hoping that they would entangle themselves like that forever.

And forever is what they got and it had been great so far.  However, those kisses seemed to have, well…been kissed goodbye for some time now.  They felt lucky to get in a quick peck and a “Have a good day, Honey” before one of them had to fly out the door for work in the morning.  And at night, well, they were tired.  She might lie on the couch with her feet thrown in his lap and they might get in a kiss every now and then.  “But today,” she caught herself thinking with a grin and confidence she hadn’t felt for some time, “Today he’s going to get it.” 

All she could think about on the ride home was how she was going to kiss him like old times.  She was prepped and prepared.  Like a baseball player getting ready to step up to bat, she stopped just short of limbering up and bouncing past the crowd.  She got home, threw open the door, marched toward him and completely chickened out!  He had no clue what was going on and simply said, “Hey Hon” when she walked into the kitchen.  Alicia just blushed and lowered her head.  “I blew it,” she thought to herself.

The two had dinner together.  She did the dishes.  He took the dog for a walk.  She threw in a load of laundry.  He took out the trash.  And just as he mentioned that he was going to go get on the computer for a bit, she grabbed him and laid one on him.  She kissed him like she was sharing an old memory.  She moved her hand around the back of his neck and pressed into him.  Their lips did the waltz and their tongues did the tango.  The room stood still around them. 

Kiss…real kiss…accomplished.  Her husband stepped back and all he said was “Wow.”  Alicia smiled and with a wink and a grin said, “Have fun on the computer, Babe,” as she walked in the other room knowing this is what it must feel like to hit one out of the park.     

~ For you ~

So, here is your gift for today…kiss your partner.  And I mean kiss your partner!  None of this smack on the lips, pat on the butt kind of stuff.  Grab ‘em.  Grab your partner when it’s not expected.  And kiss like you haven’t kissed in a long time.  Think about the first time you ever kissed.  Think about experiencing your partner for the first time.  How your heart was racing moments before your lips touched.  Think about how your eyes connected and your fingers swirled around each other. Think about the pit in your stomach that grew when you realized it was almost time and then the pit in your stomach that wouldn’t go away and left you wanting to do it again.  And let your partner feel that passion all over again too. 

Kiss a kiss that says “we’ve still got it!” 

What are you still doing here?!  Get to kissing!

Don’t have a partner right now?  That’s okay too.  Something tells me your time is around the corner, my friend.  Enjoy that first kiss for all of us who won’t ever get one again.  It’s sure to be one to remember!