National Compliment Day

January 24, 2018 (Wednesday)
Today is National Compliment Day, celebrated each year on this date. Today is a great opportunity to say something positive about the people you come into contact with. Everyone has good attributes.
It’s more challenging to compliment your boss, or people you don’t like. Take up the challenge, and find a compliment for them today, too. You may have been taught as you were growing up, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything”. Be sure, however, that your compliments are real–not just something nice said to someone even though you feel like you’re lying. You don’t want to gain the reputation of a flatterer who is just trying to get on the “good side” of people.
This day was created in 1998 by Kathy Chamberlin, of Hopkinton, NH. and Debby Hoffman, of Concord, NH.
An interesting conversation on a popular “news and talk” show last week involved accepting compliments. What do you say when complimented? Most of us would do well if we learned to say, “Thank you,” with no further comments. Even if we feel the compliment is undeserved. The person complimenting you may be normally shy and may be performing a very brave and courageous act. Almost anything you might say other than “thank you” when someone gives you a compliment would probably be misunderstood.
An old cowboy song has a line, “where seldom is heard a discouraging word,” a line we should all take to heart. This is especially true when people have gone through (and are going through) discouraging situations and life suddenly seems to make no sense. In times like these, we need encouragement. In times like these, we could use a genuine compliment. In times like these, we need each other. In times like these, we need the Lord.