“I like your nail polish.”
“Oh, thanks. I really need to redo them though.”
“Why? Why do you need to redo them?”
“Well. See here? They’re chipped a bit.”
“Oh.”
In realizing that I was pointing out basic, lame flaws to an almost 5-year-old, I gave myself a reality check.
“But it is a pretty fun pink color, right?”
“Yeah, I like it!”
Whew. Think I backpedaled out of that one.
Why is it even when thanking someone for a compliment, I still inherently think of the flaws and then basically let the person giving the compliment know they aren’t totally correct? This time I said it to an almost 5-year-old!
Our friends were in town with their two littles enjoying all the gloriousness of Fort Lauderdale, so I was excited to see them and the kiddos at the pool one day. I will never forget as that nearly 5-year-old kiddo waved at us while telling her new friend she made at the pool that her friends Caroline and Tom were here.
That innocent, toothy grin, just waving at us.
She didn’t care my nails were chipped. She didn’t notice they looked like Britney Spears from 2007. She just liked my nails and she told me as much.
And all I needed to do was say, “Thank you.”
Thank you.
That’s it.
Promise me you’ll just say thank you from now on. Accept the compliment. They’re most likely correct and you’re most likely being silly.
Thank you.
Caroline, you’re a perfectionist, me too. That’s how perfectionists react, we’re also obligatorily detail oriented. The realist in us sees all the good, but also all the bad (or the imperfect in this case), we’re aware of EVERYTHING, all the time. It’s not bad, it’s just the way we are.
We just need to be aware at times of the context of our reactions. That’s why you’re a runner, that’s why Roni is a cross-fitter, and you both excel at what you do. I found you on Roni’s blog.
You’re very right. I love Roni! And thank you! 😀