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