What is the best compliment you have ever received?

[Amiable]

I've seen a couple of threads recently about horrible things you've overheard someone say about you, or back-handed compliments, so thought it was time for a more positive thread!

What is the best compliment / nicest thing anyone has ever said about you or to you?

One of my favourite ever colleagues said to me how impressed he was that I could talk to anyone, however senior/important, and always seemed comfortable with public speaking. At the time I really didn't feel that way, but it gave me the confidence boost I needed and now I do feel it!

After having a lovely family dinner and being told repeatedly and loudly by my family members that I'm so pale I'm ghost like (all my family have lovely olivey skin and dark hair) and I randomly have v pale skin and hair.

The waitress said that I looked like Lily James (having no idea who she was - my aunty googled it) After having quite a brutal evening with my family this one made made me smile. That and all my family agreed but I don't see it personally as that women is beyond beautiful.

Another compliment at work - my manager said "don't let this one's looks deceive you, she knows her stuff and will bust your balls if you fuck around" 😅 poor new person looked terrified - it took ages to convince him that I wasn't a total ball buster 🙄 (actually not sure that was a compliment now I type it out)

I've been asked quite a few times to train new people at work (in my current job, I also used to train staff in my last role, which was much more involved).
One of our team leaders in particular always brings them to me if she's on shift, and she said "I'll put them with you because you're so patient and friendly."
I don't always feel that way, but l do remember being new at jobs, and having someone take their time and explain things is a big thing in that situation.
It's nice to be told you're giving someone a good start.

A couple that stand out. A few people have told me I have the loveliest smile, it may not seem much but as I'm not a looker, that's something I cling to in terms of physical characteristics.

Another was when a colleague said I was really accomplished. I don't think of myself as such, especially as my career trajectory has been shocking. But there are quite a few things I can do reasonably well, so have acquired a variety of slightly bizarre skills.

I make an effort to compliment other women when I get the chance. We hear/think so many negative things, and I know from my own experience how a little compliment can change your day or the way you feel forever. Such an easy gift to give.

Two totally different things

1. My Dad was a father - he was there, he provided. but overall didn't enjoy the responsibility of being responsible for the family financially.

I was taking on a property that needed renovation, he couldn't understand why I would want to do it etc etc. A year or so later, I was talking to a neighbour who said, 'you've done a great job, I didn't think a woman on her own could do this and your dad said "if H says she will do it she will"' He never paid me compliments directly BUT he had my back when others doubted.

A much more trivial instance. I'm retired but do relief work supervising on special school buses. I covered a week of challenging teenagers, the first day I got sworn at and caller an minger, by one of the kids. A few days later she asked how old I was, I told her (truthfully because I'm happy to be 68 and healthy), she then said 'You can't be 68 you are too young and healthy'.

My MIL who doesn't have a kind word to say about anybody told me she thought I was a really good mother.

Not necessarily a compliment but I always remember an ex pupil bumping into me and telling me I was the first person who had ever told them I was proud of them. She told me how much that meant to her and it touched me that she remembered.

I get told often that I have nice skin...thanks tretinoin. If you don't already, use it!

This. I've complimented other women (sometimes customers at work) and been complimented. It's lovely.

I make an effort to compliment other women when I get the chance. We hear/think so many negative things, and I know from my own experience how a little compliment can change your day or the way you feel forever. Such an easy gift to give.

@AperolWhore yes, it was quite memorable..I'm still taken aback by it😅

@MrsTerryPratchett your divorce one is so funny😂😂😂😂

My grandfather told me he would trust me with his life as I pushed his wheelchair one day. He also told me I was a life enhancing person

A work one. I was the clinical lead at a support centre for people with cancer. Local oncologists regularly suggested to their patients that they come to us for support. Often these patients were very distressed. A newly diagnosed patient came in very shocked and scared. She told me that the doctor had said to her ‘go and see Apple, she’ll work her magic on you’.

I don't think I've ever been complimented for my appearance, and I'm not good at much, but I can think of a couple of times that people have reckoned I was good at something.

My French teacher once interrogated my mum and dad at parents' evening trying to find out which of them had French family (she'd already asked me and didn't believe me when I said neither) because I apparently picked up the language so fast and spoke so naturally that I must be part French. (My French really isn't that amazing, I think it was just the comparison with the rest of the class who didn't even try !)

And I've been told lots of times that I'm really good at lighting fires (I'm a Brownie and Guide leader and also help with DofE and Y7 camp at the school where I work, so get quite a lot of opportunities to both practice and demonstrate this skill !)

my manager gives me a lot of compliments eg you’re brilliant/ love working with you which is nice! School teacher said I had a clear mind which was good too.

When my DS was about 3, he had a good old chat to a taxi driver on the way to see my dad, and when we arrived, the driver turned to me and said 'His vocabulary is extraordinary. You obviously read to him a lot'.

I invited my soon to be MiL to help me pick my wedding dress. She had 3 so s and no daughters so I thought she might like the day out. When I put on the dress I chose she started crying. She told me she was never blessed with a DD but if she had been she hoped she'd have been just like me. I didn't know what to say. Then she said marrying me was the best thing d fiance had ever done. I had 3 DC from my previous marriage so wasn't too sure about that one.

When I was a young girl the local sweet shop owner told my mother (while I was with her) that I was one of the most polite children she'd served in the shop. I know it's a ridiculous example and decades ago but it reminded me of something out of Enid Blyton and I was very pleased.

My mother claims she doesn't remember 🤔

I've got two ok three.

I can't remember who said it as I didn't realise how complimentary it was at the time / I can tell you were brought up by your Grandmother through your sons manners.

Next my future sister in law or so I thought you are the kindest person I have ever meet who years later has shown me so much cruelty along with her brother who I was to marry last year and got quietly dumped instead.

Getting back to my son every one tells me how great he is or I did a good job ie teachers ,peers ,employers and I accept all the complements he's extraordinary was the last comment, yes I did do a good job but I was lucky I had such good material to work with and I also always acknowledge that other parents may have done exactly the same and had different outcomes.

Staying positive is so hard sometimes so I just think back to number one which complements all the important people in my life.

This has inspired me to give more compliments in future, I'm moved by the number of parents who have been boosted by something said about their children.

Also, we are very bad at accepting compliments - how many of the posts above instantly follow the story with 'but I was really tired/looked a mess'! I do the same.

I was chatting with a friend once who was going through a tough time with family issues, and she suddenly said 'a talk with you always makes me feel better, you brighten everything '. Such a lovely thing to hear.

This is such a heartwarming thread!

I guess I have a couple which I didn't really think about until I saw this

1. I always get told I'm very 'smart' mostly by my work colleagues. Not sure that I am above average; but if I don't know something I do like to find the answer for next time

2. not that long ago my 2 year old was kicking off about something in public. When he'd calmed down etc a lady who was sat with her daughter told me that I'd handled the situation and told me 'good job mama'

Which is always nice to hear because we're always told how wrong we're getting it!

Me too, I wish I gave more compliments!

I see so many people with nice hair / outfits (that I don't know so can't compliment personality) and I'm too shy to tell them!

I would like to compliment more people though. This thread shows how much it can make someone's day

I have two!

my son told me out of the blue one day he “would never want a different mama”

and my nephew who came and hugged me and told me I am perfect (he is 5).

Im disabled and always in so much pain and exhaustion but I fight through to go swimming/cinema/park/play dates etc but always feel so guilty in case my disability hinders my sons experiences- it really cheered me up to know they don’t think I’m lesser!

I had some friends and their partners over for dinner, one of my friends' husbands was ill on the day and she asked if she could bring her sister (that I'd never met.)

Near to the end of the evening I overheard friend's sister in the kitchen saying "ThreeRingCircus is so warm and friendly isn't she?" and my friend agreeing. I never let on that I heard but it was about ten years ago and still makes me feel good.

Being called her 'voice of reason' at work by my Boss e.g 'Warty can you come down to my office as I need a voice of reason'.
DD telling me I'm a great swimmer - high praise.

In an old job, my team and I were accused of racism. Things got bad and we were all had up on the charge and had disciplinary hearings.

A lovely colleague who I had worked with for years said to our managers on my behalf "1993GoToo hasn't a racist bone in her body". She was a Muslim who had moved here from an African country and it meant so much that she knew that and said that about me.

A server at the staff canteen at work said to me “you’re the prettiest girl in the company”.

This was at a time when I had cripplingly low self-esteem and was piecing myself back together after a horrendous break-up. It was so lovely to hear (even if it wasn’t true lol).