Aww, Thanks: People Reveal Which Compliments Will Stay With Them Forever
Reddit user Bacibaby asked: 'What is a compliment you will remember till you die?'
When you're not particularly having a good day, the smallest compliment goes a long way.
All it takes is for someone to acknowledge your new hairstyle or say something nice about your outfit for the day that can be the biggest mood booster.
It doesn't have to be a big overture or a dramatic declaration, but it's nice to be noticed, isn't it?
Curious to hear examples of how someone made their day, Redditor Bacibaby asked:
"What is a compliment you will remember till you die?"
Some people are affable but aren't aware of how much they're appreciated for it.
A Bright Light In The World
"Someone once told me: 'It's so easy introducing you to people, you make everyone feel like you're their best friend."'
"Have held onto that for over ten years, still helps to remember when I'm not at my best."
– DashFromtheGash
Genuinely Popular
"I feel this. Last year I ran into some people I graduated high school with. A few of them were super popular during that time. One of them said 'Dude, everyone loved you in high school. I don't think there was anyone else that was able to be such good friends with so many different people and be in so many different cliques.' "
"It felt like such a genuine statement. They didn't have to say that. I've thought about it almost every day since because, to my recollection, high school was rough on me."
– sonofab*tchXmustXpay
Highly Respected
"Jeez, years ago I was at a party sometime after I graduated high school. There was a kid there who I had had a few classes with throughout the years and I always spoke to him casually like I would with anyone, but we weren't close friends or anything. He had clearly been drinking a bit because he was pretty animated and talkative and this kid usually kept to himself. Quiet is an understatement."
"He approached me and said 'Toh, I have never told you this, but I have always thought highly of you. Back in middle school there were kids making fun of the janitor and you told them all off. You told them he was working hard and there is nothing funny or to be looked down upon about taking pride in your work, no matter what you do.'"
"It almost made me tear up. I had no recollection of this moment he was talking about, but I knew I must have done it because my words in that memory of his were my father's. My parents both always hammered it into me to be a person of dignity, integrity and character. Middle school was a really tough time for me. I was bullied relentlessly. Knowing that there was someone out there who admired me during that time healed a part of little me."
– TopangaTohToh
It may be vain but getting noticed in the looks department is not such a bad thing.
Women Loving Other Women
"I was in my early 20s and I went out on the town with some girlfriends. I wore an outfit that was way out of my comfort zone. It was a black short skirt (I always wear pants) that flared out with a matching top. It showed a bit of midriff and I was self conscious."
"Before we even got into the bar, we ran into a couple of girls we didn’t know outside. I remember the one girl did a double take and just started freaking out. She went on and on and told me how gorgeous I looked and how amazing my outfit was. She had obviously been drinking, but it didn’t matter. She changed my whole night around and I suddenly felt like the hottest girl on the planet. I still remember her voice when I’m trying to pump myself up in the morning."
"I love women who love women."
– littlepinch7
Being Noticed
"Nothing feels better than when a pretty/well-dressed woman compliments you or your outfit 🥲 Every single time a gorgeous girl has called me 'pretty' or complimented me lives rent-free in my head."
– tigerribs
Train Station Affirmation
"After a concert I was on my way home with the train. I also wore an outfit out of my comfort zone, but I challenged myself. At the train station I walked passed to girl(who was drunk) and one said to the other 'omg did you se how beautiful she was?!' There was only me and them. She made my day."
– MinellaRibert
Noticed By An Older Generation
"A lovely elderly lady stopped mid sentence to say 'you have got the kindest eyes.' "
– F'kMe-F'kYou
"Old ladies are the best."
– OP
"Their honesty is only matched by that of a small child."
"In between those, things get kinda weird."
– F'kMe-F'kYou
Things get a little surprising.
In The Heat Of The Moment
"When I was like 19 I had an ex who had a history of abuse. We were arguing about something (I can't remember what about) but we were both shouting at each other. Then suddenly she broke down crying and started hugging me."
"Very confused I let the moment pass until she could speak and the compliment she paid me was 'Even when you're angry at me, I'm not scared of you.' "
– KingDebone
Owning The Big Legs
"I'm tall, heavy, and plain, and have been lucky enough to avoid getting catcalled for most of my life. But one time when I was in my 20s, biking to work in DC, this little old man on a street corner did a double take as I went by, pounding away at the pedals. 'Mighty big leeeeeeeeggggs!' he hollered, whether in appreciation or astonishment I couldn't tell."
"Now whether I'm struggling to get the bike up a hill, or just feeling down on my body, I'll say to myself 'mighty big leeeeeeeeggggs!' and feel that little extra boost. They are mighty big legs, and I am grateful both to and for them!"
– ReadTheIron
Father Knows Best
"I don't know if it counts but my dad once said 'i don't say it enough, but i'm really proud of you'."
"Which was the only time he ever said it, but it meant a lot."
– justregularoleme
The next time you internally think someone you know is looking particularly good on any given day or demonstrated something you were impressed by, you should tell them how you feel.
We often have these inner monologues that we casually dismiss because we can't be bothered, which is silly because it doesn't take much effort to verbalize them.
If it's positive, we should give voice to our thoughts.
Who knows? A compliment that you think is nothing can really brighten a person's day when they're otherwise feeling very glum, and you'd be responsible for making them feel extra special and seen.
Wanting to see the best in everyone is not a crime.
But sometimes it can be a hindrance.
Most of the time, it's a superpower.
But, there are less than stellar humans out there.
Redditor mountcoffee wanted everyone to discuss how we decipher the people are awful, so they asked:
"What are your minor red flags that you use see as a subtle but very indicative sign the other person is an a**hole?"
I give too many people the benefit of the doubt.
I need to discuss more red flags.
Nothing
Awkward Season 4 GIF by The OfficeGiphy"They are dismissive of people who can do nothing for them."
BRS023
"Major red flag, and it’s easy to tell if you get them out of a professional environment."
bowtrout
We make mistakes
"Never saying sorry. We are people. We make mistakes. And even if we didn't mean to, our words and behavior can hurt other people's feeling. Just say sorry and move on, it's not a big deal. But if someone is refusing to do so, it is a red flag to me."
Taiyo_K
"Well, there can be layers to it. My kids struggle mightily to ever admit fault and just apologize to each other when they’ve done something wrong. They think there’s some huge shame involved and for some reason it’s tough to shake them of that. Really, it’s the easiest thing in the world to say you’re sorry and move on, and they’re only slowly getting that."
Mikesaidit36
Repairs
"When they’re always the victim in conflicts with friends, coworkers, etc. people who have a capacity for self-reflection and owning their mistakes tell stories where they’re a**holes. Further, they’re able to talk about what they’d do differently or what they’ve learned, and how they took steps to repair the relationships. Never being at fault, always being the victim, and not taking responsibility for repair are huge red flags."
MrsDarcy1983
Talk Crap
"When they talk crap behind everyone's back but have what I like to call a sticky sweet personality to their face. I know some people like that."
EchoSpecial87
"I used to be in a group chat with a bunch of people who did exactly this at least once a week,. I genuinely believe a lot of people who use said fakea** sticky sweet personalities are doing it to soften the blow if someone actually has a problem with em. Because they think 'Ooooh but they're so nice! this is just a minor blemish on a really kind person' to someone who would throw them in the car crusher because their ac was too loud."
TheRockingGoomba
Guys and girls... you're all a mess...
The Company
Season 5 Friends Tv Show GIF by FriendsGiphy"What their friends are also like and how they interact with others/other people."
nazeem_ihateyou
Be Nice
"The Waiter Test. The person who is nice to you but isn't nice to the waiter isn't nice person. This also applies to cashiers, counter help, hotel clerks, custodians, security guards and everyone else in similar positions."
"HOWEVER, don't apply the waiter test the first time you meet someone. Wait until they've been around you a few times and are comfortable in their skin around you. The first few times they are on their best behavior."
AnybodySeeMyKeys
Talk to me...
"I live in Los Angeles so this happens a lot but basically whenever you talk to somebody, and it’s all about them all the time. You give your point of view or interject something about yourself and they immediately dismiss it and go back to them."
DonJuanDingdong
"Some people forget that a conversation is a two way street."
Pass_the_Lasagna
The Game
romantic lady and the tramp GIFGiphy"In an office environment, overly kissing all the managers a**es so they'll let them cut corners all the while calling other people out on minor things. They know how the game works."
psycharious
Slammed!
"When they know someone is behind them, but don't hold the door open. Just let it slam. Or don't say please & thanks to service workers. I understand sometimes missing the opportunity, but when it is consistent, I have been known to say something."
PokerQuilter
Look for the signs... they are there.
Did we miss any? Let us know in the comments below.
When you're having a bad day, sometimes it's the littlest things that can give you a small boost.
Whether it's someone holding the door open for you or another giving up their seat for you on the train, it's no skin off their teeth.
But the tiny gestures of goodwill can mean the world to you at that moment when you need it the most.
Curious to hear examples proving humanity still exists in the world, Redditor stranger2Me asked:
"What’s a small act of kindness you were once shown, that you’ll never forget?"
These Redditors who were going nowhere fast got an unexpected lift.
The Suprise Twist
"Neighbors asked to borrow my truck. Told them I could not trust my truck because the tires were bad"
"Next day mr neighbor called and said he was getting new tires for his suburban and I could have his old ones. Told me to just show up at this certain tire shop and they would put them on"
"Get to tire shop and they put on brand new Goodyear tires. I asked what happened to the old tires I was suppose to receive."
"Shop owner said the 'old tires' was just a story to get me in the shop."
"Mr neighbor bought me a full set of new tires instead of the old tires he said I could have."
– jorcam
Oh, Canada
"Riding my bike on a long trip through Canada. With about 50 miles to go, I had a major mechanical failure. Stuck on the side of the road in a foreign country within 5 minutes at least 10 cars had stopped to check on me."
"One guy loaded my bike in the back of his truck and drove me 30 miles to the border where I could catch a ferry back to the US. Amazing kindness and generosity toward a stranger. He just asked that I pay it forward and to date I've helped 5 cyclists who were broken down in honor of that promise👍"
– countlessbass
Push Came To Shove
"Alternator died while I was driving home from university. Engine died as I exited the freeway in the middle of the night in a not-so-pleasant part of town in the days before cell phones. As I'm pushing my car out of the intersection, a guy in a truck comes up and offers to push my car to my neighborhood a good three miles away. He does so, and I'm pulling into my neighborhood, he simply gives a wave and drives off into the night. I never even had a chance to thank him."
– KahBhume
Those who were in need of basic essentials remain forever grateful for their respective encounters with good samaritans.
Comforts We Take For Granted
"I was given access to a shower and a hot meal after being homeless for 9 months."
– A3V01D
Wrapped In Love
"I was nine years old, waiting for the school bus in Wisconsin winter. I had a thin coat, no hat or gloves. A woman driving past saw me and stopped, giving me a blanket from the back of her car. It was a long skinny one, so she wrapped it around my head and shoulders like a big scarf. I remember thanking her, but being confused. I told her I didn't know how I would give it back when I was done borrowing it. She hugged me and said not to worry. I still have that blanket."
– saintdelft
New Lunch
"My gym teacher purchased me lunch in 3rd grade after I dropped mine. I'm 34 years old and still remember this."
– bob_rob_III
Encouraging Teacher
"I recorded a homemade album with my garage band in high school and handed out a few CDs. A few weeks later my English teacher approached me with 5 pages of notes on what he liked and what I could improve on. He apparently got the CD from someone at the high school and listened to it all the way through (it was over an hour long). He didn't know I was the singer and guitar player until he asked the person who gave him the CD. He said that if I ever got a shot in a studio, I would create something amazing. Thank you to all the teachers out there who believe in their students. It makes all the difference to some of us."
– SuperSmokeyBear
People who found themselves in distress were comforted by thoughtful strangers.
The people involved in these situations may not have introduced each other in that moment, but the acts of kindness still remain forever embedded in memory.
Common Ground
"I took my sister whose in a wheelchair to the cinema for the first time on my own. At the end, I realized I couldn't undo the brakes and was blocking everyone. I felt like crying because I thought everyone was pissed at me, but some nice lady helped me, then took me and my sister out. She said she once had a son who needed a wheelchair. This was long ago but I'll never forget."
– Zedfourkay
"I was out of a job at a time that I had to support my mother. Finally landed one but I had to walk back and forth and I didn't have any shoes that would hold up on the walk or the work. Went to fb and mom asked around for some hand me downs we could buy from some one. A day later a very kind man showed up with a brand new pair of really nice shoes he had just gone out and bought for me. He left before I could even get any money for him. I cried."
– Bubbazord
The Girl Who Came From Nothing
"Sometimes the hero is the one who asks. A friend of mine has a son who was dating a girl with a really bad home life. She broke down at their house once because she’s started her period and couldn’t afford tampons that month. My friend found out she only had one pair of shoes that were falling apart, one pair of jeans she wore every day, and a few hoodies. The girl was my size so I passed down a few pairs of Nike shoes I’d never worn, a couple of Lush bath bombs and gift cards to Belk and JCPenney."
"My friend took her to the mall said she only bought underwear and bras since she barely had any that fit. It meant nothing to me since it was all stuff I had around my house but everything to that girl. There were about 6 of us that dropped off stuff for the girl, who said it was more than she’d ever owned in her life."
– elvra
Thank You, Reddit
"During the single most difficult time of my life, a stranger on reddit gifted me $500. To me, it was a fortune. I received it while at work and just broke down. It started the change of my life and a few months later I was able to move, met my now-fiancé, had my son, and found my job. I still message them once in a while to update them on my life and continue to thank them for their generosity, but I think they abandoned their account years ago."
"Edit: You all have inspired me to write them another message (it’s been a while). And a shoutout to everyone who has or wants to do something similar. I hope you understand how earth-shattering, in the best way possible, those kind of gifts can be."
– AngelMeatPie
Alas, there is still hope for humanity.
These heartwarming stories are reminders of how exceptional we are as human beings, and that it really doesn't take much to spread the love and extend a helping hand where we can.
We are a complicated species. Human beings have the extraordinary ability of critical thinking and making decisions based on their thoughts or emotions.
And because everyone's predilections vary from person to person, every individual behaves accordingly.
But there are fundamental sides to people that distinguish them from one type of person to another. In the most basic terms, there are good and bad people.
Curious to know about what makes a human being kinder than others, Redditor hotpocketsandranch asked:
"Why do you choose to be a nice person?"
Redditors shared the various benefits that come from kindness.
It's Contagious
"It’s fulfilling, even though it can be emotionally costly at times. Also, your niceness can inspire niceness in others so that’s always a driving force."
– doctorbrunner
Better Than The Alternative
"Being nice may be emotionally costly but the affect that being mean has overall is soo much worse. It's drags you down initially, and the person you're not nice to. Which can cause lasting problems because no one wants to deal with or be nice to a mean/negative person. And that's all aside from the long term negative effects on your health and mental health that being constantly in that circle or not niceness will get you. It's honestly cheaper and better for everyone to be nice. Even if it is a little harder...some people require extra niceness."
– mynameisred89
"Selfish Interest"
"Life is tragic enough, we all die in the end, let's not make it any worse."
"To add as well, isn't there actually a selfish interest to be good to people? I mean everyone you interact with is someone that lives in the bubble of your life. If you were trying to be empathic, being good to them, giving them honest advice that you believe will genuinely make their life better and more prosperous, wouldn't your life be better as well? Wouldn't the likelihood that their prosperity eventually gets shared back with you increase?"
"Who wants to live in a community where people around them are constantly troubled and depressed? So what you want to make it worse for them by being an asshole and add to that suffering? How does that help you exactly other than blowing off some momentary steam and making one more person who thinks less of you? Shame."
– FloatingArk54
You don't know what a person is going through. Why go out of your way to be mean?
Having Compassion
"You never know how their life has been, or is. You never know how someone is feeling, or when one snarky sentence could send them over the edge. I never want to be the cause of someone’s despair."
– ChunguSprite
A Stressful Place
"This week has been really hard on me stress wise due to my mom having a surgery and I’ve been in an awful place emotionally. People being unnecessarily rude or cruel to me for no reason or very little provocation has led to me crying and shaking and in tears all night. On the other hand, people being nice to me and doing me even tiny favors or the smallest word of encouragement has meant the world and lifted my spirits higher than I think they even imagined."
"You don’t know what’s going on with people. So be kind. Please."
– goddessofwaterpolo
Leading To Acceptance
"This is definitely one thing that ended up saving me. I was quite a angry kid and I’m thankful for the one kid who ended up reaching out and turned my life around. I could have stayed angry, alone and asocial but they took me into their friend group."
– foreveralonesolo
We all have a choice. And these Redditors choose to not to be the cause of spreading negativity.
It's Just Easier
"Because the world is an awful place and it take me zero effort to not make it worse."
– riphitter
When The World Is Cold
"Why would I choose to be nasty? Life's hard enough, let's not add to it by being an a**hole to people."
– thetartancat
Positive Living
"I’m an optimistic person and think being nice is a better way of life."
– DognamedTurtle
Not Feeling Good
"Being bad feels bad."
– GozerDaGozerian
It's Not Conditional
"It makes me feel good, even though I know most people won’t return the favor."
– F'kyouimnotafurry
Random Acts Of Kindness
"For me, I feel really good myself when I do something nice like hold them door open for the elderly or say hi to a random person in passing, etc."
"Oddly put, I’m nice to other people for myself, not for them?"
– hotpocketsandranch
Overall, many Redditors felt that choosing to be kinder felt better than the alternative.
Let's face it, being nice in general goes a long way, and the world could use that kind of positive energy more than ever.
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People Share Their Funniest 'This Is Why I Can't Have Nice Things' Experiences
Many folks suffer the consequences of someone else ruining things for everybody.
The phrase, "this is why we can't have nice things," has come into parlance because all too often, we can't seem to hold onto the little things that make us content or make our lives easier because of a selfish or inconsiderate scumbag.
"Did you think I wouldn't hear all the things you said about me?/This is why we can't have nice things."
Oof. We've been there, girl.
"What is a great example of 'This is why we can't have nice things?'"
Schools are notorious for pranksters. That doesn't make it okay to keep the unwanted reputation going.
Vandalism In Schools
"Students destroying school property as part of a social media trend. Now there are no soap dispensers and I have to time and document my 10th graders bathroom trips."
Tighter Surveillance After A Theft
"On the first day of school, some 9th graders took a computer monitor and left it on a city bus. We got it back, but now we have to watch every single kid like a hawk at all times."
Missing The Target
"lower class-men in high school. We literally can't use the bathroom become the second week of school some freshmen wanted to sh*t and piss all over the bathrooms. My bus driver also quit the second week of school because of disrespectful kids. i'm too broke to have a car."
Exploiting methods of transportation resulted in some very frustrated civilians.
When The TSA Cracked Down
"The nincompoop who tried to shoe bomb an airplane shortly after 9/11. Passengers have all had to take their shoes off for security ever since."
Scooters On-The-Go
"We've had those pay as you go scooters in my city for the past 2 years. As soon as they were released I knew some idiot would do something that would get them banned. Somebody tied one to some rope and left if dangling off a bridge, so the next fool had to retrieve it but pulling it up by rope. They weren't banned but it came close."
"Also, I know someone who grew up in Liverpool and the local government doesn't put any money into public parks because they're vandalised all the time."
On The Mend
"We have had them for 2 or 3 years now and I thought for sure the vandalism in the first year would make them never come back."
"But here we are and things are going ok. Not great - this year there was an adjustment to bylaws to not allow them on most sidewalks and people have for the most part followed through."
Parents Explain Which Things Surprised Them Most When Their Child Moved Out | George Takei’s Oh Myyy
Waterbourne Rental Bikes
"Sh*t, we got some rental bikes a couple years ago. Within a month I saw one in a river. People abused the hell out of them and they weren't around very long."
– dudius7
People had to go and ruin things that benefit others.
Prescription Drugs
"A lot of the most effective prescription drugs, such as benzodiazepines, amphetamines and opiates are hardly ever prescribed in my country due to the small number of people who abuse the crap out of them. Now doctors completely ignore their therapeutic benefit and treat the people who need them like drug addicts. I told a doctor I'd gotten prescribed Valium once and he interrogated me to find out who prescribed it and why the hell I needed it. Meanwhile I'd had relentless anxiety for months that made it impossible to eat or sleep."
Bad Assumptions
"YES! I have sickle cell a chronic pain disorder and mention to drs 'hey i take oxycodone and norcos but im highly allergic to dilaudid' and they get so heated over it, ive even heard nurses outside of my hospital room jokingly mention that im 'back again for more' when im genuinely just in pain! It makes me not want to be seen when im hurting but then waiting puts me in MORE pain and it's just an endless cycle. Then to make the matter worse my illness is most common in black people who are already looked at as drug seeking."
Benefit Programs
"People voting against programs that would help low income households because they think some people will take advantage of it and they would rather everyone suffer than help some people who they feel dont deserve it."
– Gka28
A Result From The Lack Of Consideration
"We still have a pandemic going because somebody refused to follow proper quarantine protocol because it made them uncomfortable."
Brexit
"For anyone in the UK, Brexit."
"Experts predicted all of this before the vote. It was widely reported upon. People still voted 'Leave'."
All it took for my fifth grade class to be without Oreo Cookie Fridays once was due to Bradley not keeping his mouth shut during reading time.
Our teacher Mrs. Lichtenstein would make us quietly read and forbid us from talking to each other so we could concentrate. If we managed to stay quiet for 30 minutes, she'd pass around four Double-Stuff Oreos each to everyone in the classroom.
Not sure if teachers are allowed to give students junk food now, but back then, it was a luxury item.
When Bradley whispered wisecracks trying to make us laugh during reading time, Mrs. Linchtenstein revoked our reward. We were so pissed at Bradley. He was why we couldn't have "nice things."
Thanks a lot, Bradley.