Today: Compliment

Complement someone today.

Some one. A person. A man. A woman. A child.

"I love those shoes."
"Nice car."
"Dude, I dig that watch."
"That's a pretty outfit your wearing."
"I like your haircut."

These are not compliments for people. They are compliments for things. Things don't need compliments. Shoes, cars, watches and outfits don't particularly care if you like them.

People do care. These are half-ass compliments. Nice motive with limited effort and poor execution.

If you really like a child's outfit, compliment them while doing it. "You have great taste in clothes."

Compliments are transformative. They are one small way in which God uses community to help us understand ourselves. When you tell a girl that you like her hair, you are not complementing her, you are complimenting something she can't control and are re-enforcing an understanding of identity and beauty that she can't control. Tell her that you think she makes good decisions with her hair and how wise she is.

Stop half-ass compliments. Put some thought into it. Complement a person today.