A two-in-one post for this week's 30 Days of Truth... and both days talk about compliments.

Day 11 - Something people seem to compliment you the MOST on
Day 12 - Something you NEVER get compliments on.

I decided to merge two days because some compliments I receive fall on both categories. Doing this randomly, I do get compliments about:

• My smile. When I was about 3 or 4 years old, I didn't know how to smile. I remember I was in La Union that time because my brother's graduating from pre-school and whenever we would pose for pictures, the one holding the camera would ask me to smile. Hmmm.. I didn't know what smile meant! They showed to me how to do it, yet I couldn't do it, so I end up opening my mouth to show my teeth - like how kids show their teeth to people saying "no cavities." Hahaha. Well, as I grew up, I realized I am not pretty, and that the only way to make my face presentable is to smile. I am glad a lot of people like my smile.
• My voice. I always think my speaking voice sounded like a little girl, but I do get comments from people that it sounded good. One time in our speech class, we were at the speech lab and we have to report an incident based on newspapers, and when my turn was up, my classmates didn't realize it was me speaking. When I worked as a telemarketer, and the company decided to dissolve it, I was asked to transfer to the customer service team because my boss said I got great voice. I may not like my voice that much, but of course I am glad some people do find it okay.
• My hands. Back when I was younger, my cousins Dang and Leah would compliment my hands. They say my fingers looked like candles - thick at the base and slim at the tips. I also love my fingers, but because the base of my fingers are thick, it's difficult for me to buy rings. Aside from my fingers, K really loved my soft palms as well... he said he loved holding my hands. Well, I do try to moisturize it as much as I could, because I always do house chores.
• My photography. This falls on both categories. I do receive raves about the pictures I take - my friends Lei and Ethel would tell I capture the drama in the portraits I take, and some people would say they are not fans... and some won't have comments about it. I guess using a point and shoot camera do give people something to praise and scorn - I do receive surprised comments when I tell I am using p&s, yet at times there are people saying, "ah.. okay." Well, I do love hearing compliments - it's a major morale booster, but of course, I do know I still have a lot to learn. Photography is very subjective, and that I really embrace.
• My cooking. I rarely receive compliments from mom and brother about my cooking, which made me sad a bit, but digging deep into it, they do eat a lot of the foods I cooked, so even if they won't say anything, their actions are speaking volumes. My sister and my cousin Mhai are very vocal about their compliments; they love my cooking. :)

Compliments, like I say, are great morale boosters. I don't get compliments in everything I do, but whenever I get them, I do grab them with both hands and keep it in my heart.

*** Jenn ***