36. Compliments.

Note: The above picture has little to do with this post apart from being a fairly accurate depiction of the grin I've been wearing all afternoon.

I was on a Saturday morning stroll when a young man stopped right as he was walking past me. "What a beautiful woman You are," he said. (Yes, in the polite form of address.) "Thank You, thank You," I said and continued walking. And grinned the entire afternoon.

To me, there are two types of compliments. There are the ones you get from people trying to hit on you ("You seem like such a smart lady - can I touch your boobs?") or after wheedling them out of your friends or partners ("No honey, you don't look fat in that dress.") or in return for complimenting someone ("Thanks, I enjoyed your presentation as well."). These can be lovely, but they tend to leave you wondering how earnest they are. Then there are extra-special compliments. These come when you least expect them, and when the people giving them don't expect to get anything in return. You pass someone at a nightclub in your swankiest top and will accidentally overhear them whisper "Wow, did you see that redhead?" to their friend. Your friend will get hilariously drunk and tell you they think you're the nicest person they know (and not remember any of it the next day). A random stranger will stop you to say they think you have a cool style. Someone whose respect you've worked hard to earn finally and reluctantly gives it to you.

I challenge myself and you to give a compliment to a random stranger. It just might make their day.