Survey: Choose Your Compliment!

[Natasha]

Guess what. It s your lucky day (or maybe this is an everyday occurrence for you...).

Someone close to you, but not that close to you, is about to pay you a compliment. For example, it could be a colleague, a friend, or a neighbor. The compliment comes out of nowhere, and there are no issues such as a possible romantic meaning. It s just an isolated compliment, period.

Under those circumstances, which compliment would you normally choose?

a) you re pretty/handsome
b) you re slender
c) you look strong (physically)
d) you re well dressed
e) you have good [insert here the body part you are most interested in improving]

All the answers are based on physical characteristics to make it easier to choose between them. I look forward to reading your answers! And of course there are no right or wrong answers, and the purpose is not to judge anyone. Just thought this might be a thought-provoking exercise http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[emilycat]

Natasha,

What a creative question! I'm a bit confused though...are you asking which compliment we would give others most often, or which one we would most like to hear about ourselves? If it's the latter, I would definitely pick a), which I love to hear and increases my head size immensely. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif
For the former, I would say d) -- I've been accused of being addicted to clothes.

[Natasha]

Oops...yes, I mean you get to choose which compliment you would like someone to pay YOU. Which one would make you happiest, or give you an extra little boost the rest of the day?

And I guess I should give my answer, too: a).

[Kristilyn1]

would have to be pretty. Call me shallow!

I actually had a client yesterday who told me that I look like Bill Clinton's old press secretary--Dee Dee Myers (though she may be heavy--not sure and I'm not) but of course I had to check what she looks like and I DO look like her! Unfortunately she does not look like Gwyneth Paltrow or Shania Twain or anything.....so I told my male co-workers the golden rule--don't tell a woman she looks like ANYBODY unless it is one of the 25 most beautiful women in the world.

Kristi

[donleyk]

I had an colleague mention last week that I looked great, she was referring to my weight loss so I would have to go with b. I am doing this for myself but it is nice when people notice (and mention it).

[hlao23]

I think I would choose "e" (although, I have to admit, "a" would run a close second). I remember several years ago I started working out and was just thrilled when someone commented that they could see a difference in my calf muscles - and that's not even a part I was concerned with. I guess it made me feel like I was accomplishing something. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/cool.gif

[lindrusso]

At this moment I would have to pick "b" because that would mean that my workout routine is working! I'm still not slender, but I will be thrilled the day that someone can pay me that compliment! Oh and it would be preferable if this compliment came from someone who was, themselves, slender - I don't want it to be a relative thing if you know what I mean....

[phantomcg]

I would have to say (b) with (c) running a very close second. I am working on losing a few pounds, but I just love how strong my body feels from working out. I may have started working out to lose weight, but I think I continue to work out more for how it makes me feel than for how I look. Does that make any sense?

Cheryl

[MrsReber]

I would have to pick b as well. I do like to lose weight and be healthy for myself, however, it has been drilled into my head that fat is not acceptable (thanks mom and dad!!).

Of course, at the current moment, I would really like to hear "when are you due" so that people know I'm pregnant and not just fat!

[lorilei]

Natasha -

I'm going to throw a wrench into your question, not because it's not intriguing (you're ALWAYS intriguing), but because none of those compliments really hit home with me.

I'd SOOOO much rather have someone compliment my mind, my cleverness, or my generosity than have someone compliment my outer appearance. I'll grant that appearances are important in this world; but I guess I feel strongly that beauty lies within... and if I had a choice, I'd take respect over beauty any day.

To be fair, I'll answer the real question as well. Forced to choose, I would pick d -- probably because this compliment comes closest to complimenting an inner talent (appreciation of aesthetic sense). http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif This one might even make me smile.

http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif Trouble maker lorilei

[SusieO]

I would choose a. Every day when my husband sees me dressed for work, he tells me I look pretty. Every single day. And I never get tired of hearing it.

In a professional setting, I, like lorilei, would rather be appreciated for my brains and talent (thank you for being a troublemaker, lorilie; you make an excellent point). But at home, I want my sweetie to continue to find me attractive.

[Natasha]

Originally posted by lorilei:
Natasha -
I'd SOOOO much rather have someone compliment my mind, my cleverness, or my generosity than have someone compliment my outer appearance.

Absolutely! I'm right with you (well, usually) http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif and I'm sure many others are as well. That's why I had to create a level playing ground by putting solely more "external"-type choices. If I said, which would you rather be called: pretty, kind, brilliant, etc., I know that all of you would choose the more substantial ones instead of the more "shallow" ones...I couldn't make it too easy, could I? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

But I think you've come up with a fantastic idea for next week's survey http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif Have a terrific day and weekend, all, and thanks for the responses so far. Very interesting stuff!

[hhcowgirl]

I know this isn't really an option, but I would like to hear "You are really smart." All of my life, it has always been about my looks, despite excelling academically and being in law school now. Even here at school, where you would think that everyone would respect that we must all be intelligent and articulate, I am known as the "dumb blonde."

[food girl]

Ugg, it IS an everyday occurence. One of my female co-workers constantly makes comments on how I look/dress/my figure. It makes me horribly uncomfortable!

In front of one of my patients she said, "Doesn't she look just like the Skipper barbie?" When you see me at the CL weekend we will all have a good laugh about this one.

Lisa

[Sandy1]

Last night my stepson who is 23 told his Dad and I that even though most of his friends parents are at least 10 years younger than us...we were in much better shape than all of em...with much more energy!! How's that for a nice compliment. Just reinforces what I already know; that the clean eating and exercising is paying off.
Sandy

[kwormann]

Well, because of my body type (short - 5'1", medium boned and very curvy), I will never be called slender! After thinking for a while, though, I have decided I would like people to say I look healthy. I want a healthy glow and strong healthy body that looks like I enjoy life, move and eat well. It would have nothing to do with my looks, per se, just a general healthy glow. Does this make sense??????

Kim

[This message has been edited by kwormann (edited 02-18-2001).]