I love receiving compliments, but who doesn't? There are compliments that you receive that make you feel happy, that make you smile, or that can completely brighten your day. Sometimes hearing from a close friend or family member that you're a great person is lovely, but sometimes it can fall on deaf years. Whereas being told by someone relatively unfamiliar or that 'special someone' that you're great can make you feel like you can fly. People are great, and they can be truly lovely. I love my friends and family and I truly do cherish all of the completely awe-inspiring things that I've heard from them over the years. But to hear from a complete stranger that the way you dress is fantastic and they wish they looked liked you, somehow that can sometimes mean so much more.
It is often said that to be trusted by someone is a far greater compliment than to be loved by them. I've often struggled with this idea and have changed my mind on it countless times. In my definition of love, trust and love are one and the same. They exist together, you can't separate them. Now I know that we are supposed to 'love everyone', but that's not what I'm talking about. I have friends who are lovely people, and I have a great time with them, but I can't trust them. I still love them in that dull platonic way, but there is no deeper connection there. The relationship is shallow, it's a rock pool friendship. But when you trust someone and you just know that they have your back, that they'll catch you, you can't help but love them. All of a sudden this relationship has dived below the surface. It still may be platonic, but it's more than that. Which is why, if I trust someone, it's really a testament as to how much I love them. I don't trust people easily, but some people really make it worth it.
For me, the compliments that really get my heart racing and put a smile on my face, are those about my writing or my blog. You see, when I write, I am more honest than I ever am in a conversation. Words form so easily in my head and flow out of my fingers. But most of the time the words get lost in translation between my brain and mouth and I end up talking complete nonsense. So when someone tells me how much they enjoy what I write, what it really means to me, is that they really like the real me. They like who I am when I'm not hiding behind smoke and mirrors. They like the way I work, the way my mind ticks. It means more to me than anyone could ever possibly know. This brings me to that fantastic Wordsworth quote; '
fill your paper with the breathings of your heart'. I hope that I'm able to successfully achieve this, that I'm able to do something with this somewhat bizarre talent.
Until next time fellow humans....
