What’s the nicest thing a stranger has ever said to you?

[Magik01]

Following on from the thread about the strangest thing said, I thought it would be nice to hear some positive stories!

I was at a theme park with DS2 who was about 8 weeks old at the time. We were walking one of the character live shows and he was hungry so I sat and fed him (I’m BFing). A woman came up to me after the show and said “it’s so lovely seeing someone feeding their baby, your doing a really great job.”

It honestly made my day, sometimes it’s the little things!

Just recently someone joined our department who I know vaguely as we worked together years ago for a brief period- she now has young children and said she remembers me as a fun, slightly wacky mum who was always doing fun things with my children and that she tries to be like that with her children and often thinks of me.

I could cry now remembering it because working when mine were little was so tough and I just remember being exhausted. What a lovely person she is to say it.

@romdowa I love that woman more for the tongue lashing than the help!

A woman was really horrible to me in the street once over the behaviour of my kids. For days it was stuck in my head and I tortured myself over the things she said. About a week later I was coming out of a shop with the kids and an old man held the door open for me. He asked were all the kids mine. He said "wow I love seeing a big family with a lovely mum like you. I was one of 9 myself, you remind me of my family. Absolutely wonderful". He will never know how much that comment meant to me and how much I needed it at that moment in time.

An ex manager:
"You really are beautiful"
At the time I was in an abusive relationship and had no confidence. It meant a lot.

A friend:
"No matter your circumstances, you always rise again. You are amazing".
This was after confiding in her that my stbxh had cheated multiple times and I was preparing to leave him.

A few years ago (in my late 30s) I was flying home after spending 6 months travelling through South America. I was changing flights at Houston and struck up a very brief conversation with a guy who was travelling to a small Caribbean island. Some time later as I was walking to departures I hear this shouting and it's the guy running after me saying 'come with me! We'll have a great time!'. Turned out he was deadly serious.

It was startling, bemusing and weird but actually just the sort of offer I needed as I felt so bedraggled and sad on that journey home!

You look like a Botticelli angel.

I'm disabled and use a frame to walk with, or sometimes a mobility scooter.
A woman who I crossed paths with on the school run each day stopped me and said "you're such an incredible mum, you're always smiling and talking to the children, and you are doing so well to stay cheerful despite clearly being disabled. I just want you to know that you're doing an amazing job and I pray for you."
We now stop for a chat most mornings. She's lovely.

Years ago, Outside Willy Low’s in Dundee, an old man said to me
“That’s a braw solid frame ye’ve got there, I’ve nae seen ane like that since afore the war!”
It took me a moment to realise he was referring to my bike.

@TeeTotaller1

Were you wearing fake tan?

Few years ago. Had a job interview and was super nervous, I needed the job as my then current one had decided not to extend the contract.
Got out of the car and crossed the road, a random woman said to me, "Can I just tell you that's an absolutely stunning dress! You look great!"
It was such an uplift for me - really made me smile and went to the interview with more confidence - got the job as well!

@vampirethriller

Walking past a church in Spain one Sunday morning an old lady told me I looked like the Virgin Mary. I don't at all but she was so lovely.

How do you know you don't?

A retail assistant in John Lewis gave me a free voucher for cup of tea when I was paying for some items, the boys were young (2 / newborn) and I must have looked like a woman on the edge. Can’t remember exactly what she said but it was so kind of her.

@weekend2021 no it was The Body Shops Vanilla Oil

I think this is more lighthearted horrible but not nasty so I'll put it here:

I had bought myself a lovely flowery jersey type kimono cardigan, loved it. First time wearing it, with a black tshirt/leggings and boots. Came downstairs ready to go, DH looked me up and down and said straight off the bat 'you look like Marie from Everybody Loves Raymond'.

I was 39

Someone recently told me that i was the happiest person they had ever known. I was touched as they didn't know me that well, but they said they had always noticed my cheerfulness and good humour.

A colleague told me that I was always smiling which was nice to hear.

They were a stranger btw. Only ever saw them walking around the building.

Oh when people compliment my boys I love it! To be fair they might be a bit feral but they are unfailingly polite and love a good chat! Old people love them!

Oh and not a stranger but when I got married one of my (platonic!) male friends told me "twice in my life you have taken my breath away, one was on a night out and looking at you just now". He wasn't saying it with any intention, but it has stuck with me as the loveliest thing anyone has ever said to me!

Years ago having lunch on my own with my 2 DC I was struggling a bit. DH was away and it wasn’t long after of lost my third child at birth. A woman complimented me on my beautifully behaved children and it made my day.

More recently someone I managed told me how much she loved working for me and how glad she was that she’d chosen to join my team.

A stranger stopped me to say how elegant she thought I looked recently. I can't tell you how nice it was to hear something like that, completely out of the blue. I was browsing in a shop, dressed casually. I'm mid 40s, tall and slimmish but never feel elegant, as my hair's naturally curly and I'm not big on lots of make up or nails etc, so I never feel as polished as some women are. I try to remember her lovely comment when having a rubbish day

I was all dressed up in full on ball gown for a university party, having drinks in a bar. A middle aged man came over and politely asked if I would mind going and saying hello to his little girl who apparently thought I was a real life princess

@Gwenhwyfar going by the pictures I don't

Not me, but there's a girl who works on the tills in our local shop who is deaf (the store put a sign by her till so that customers understand). I've seen a number of customers sign "thank you" or give her a big thumbs up after being served and her smile lights up her face!

My friends gran said to me "with a smile like that you can go anywhere" just before we went in when I was nervous about going in somewhere and feeling a bit out of place.