Compliments

I've been very lucky in my life and lucky for a lot of reasons.

I was reminded today of one of those reasons: in private, in person, and sometimes in very public places, a surprising number of really tremendous people have paid me the honour of a compliment.

And not just any compliment. No, no - I'm talking about the kind of compliment that leaves you awestruck and humbled; the kind that was thoughtful and measured and eloquent; the kind where you're pretty sure that you aren't really worthy of such praise, but glad nonetheless that someone out there thought so highly of you, if even just for a moment, and found a moment to tell you so.

Don't get me wrong - all kind words, if sincere, are worth saying. But sometimes people say things (or write things) that profoundly affect the person that they're saying things about.

I count myself as truly lucky to have been on the receiving end of words like these. I'd like to say more about the gratitude I feel and how I have tried to grow into a better person as a way of demonstrating that gratitude for this luck of mine. But I never have been very good at that kind of thing.

Instead, I think I might try returning the favour or at least paying it forward.