"Compliments Journal"

I flew home to see my mom this weekend. My dad is in Cambodia on business (for the third time this year!). I called her at the beginning of last week, and she just sounded really lonely. I got off the phone with her, hopped on the internet and booked a plane ticket, and then I called her back to tell her I was coming home at the end of the week. She told me that she was lucky God blessed her with such a good daughter. And when she dropped me off at the airport yesterday, she said that I had made her weekend so much better, just by being there with her. And that’s exactly why I did it.

I wrote and presented a paper at a local conference last week. My slot was really early in the morning so my faculty sponsor for this conference (who is also my committee chair) told me that she wasn’t going to make it. This was fine with me, because my presentation slot was at 8:40 in the morning, and I was happy to email her a copy. But, when it was my turn to go—she walked into the room! I was incredibly flattered that she would drive all the way from Dallas to Arlington just to hear me give my paper. I read my paper and afterward Dr. F told me that I had done a really good job on my paper AND that it was worth trying to publish if I expand it. She even offered to help me get it ready for publication. A few days later she told me that she thought I should have won one of the prizes for presentation Yay! I’ve been living with pride from this compliment for the last week because it’s high praise from someone whose judgment, opinion, and literary knowledge I really really respect.

I found myself backsliding into brushing off the compliments of others today. I went to see a movie with a friend this evening. When I went over to her house to pick her up, she complemented me on my outfit. I, however, brushed it off because I didn’t feel like I looked particularly cute. However, after some thought, I realized that I’m harder on myself than others and that I judge myself much more harshly than others do. So now I’m going to take her complement at face value and try to believe that I actually do look good right now (since I still have said outfit on right now)

My best friend told me that she was really proud of me for sticking with my exercise regimen for the last two months and that she was pleased that I was doing something good for myself.

And I thanked her and told her that I was proud of myself too. And I am!

I too have a tendency to be hard on myself, and I tend to discount the compliments that people give me. I think this can really help me.