How to Accept a Compliment

How to Accept a Compliment

By Carolyn Bucior

Alone(əˈlōn) in my office one afternoon, I unpeeled(ˌənˈpēld) the wrapper(ˈrapər) from a square(skwe(ə)r) of chocolate(ˈCHäk(ə)lit,ˈCHôk-) with a deliberate(də) curiosity(ˌkyo͝orēˈäsitē) not associated(-SHē-,əˈsōsēˌātid) with office snacking(snak). As the minty candy(ˈkandē) dissolved(diˈzälv) in my mouth, I read the words printed inside the wrapper: “Accept(akˈsept) a compliment.”

I would normally not say yes to suggestions from strangers who work in what I assume is the marketing department of Dove(dəv) Chocolate, Promises(ˈpräməs) Division(diˈviZHən). But they aren’t alone in their advice(ədˈvīs). “Ladies, why the heck(hek) can’t we take a compliment?” a Prevention(priˈvenCHən) writer asked in a January(ˈjanyo͞oˌerē) headline. The message: C’mon women. Quit(kwit) being apologists(əˈpäləjist). Fully accept the compliments you deserve(dəˈzərv) — without any self-deprecation(ˈdepriˌkāt) or changing of the subject.

Until this point, I would have responded to a compliment — say, on my hair — with half acknowledgment and half distraction(disˈtrakSHən). “Thanks, but [acknowledge recent struggle with hair or hairdresser(ˈhe(ə)rˌdresər)]. Ha ha ha.” Doing so restored(riˈstôr) order. But while a simple “Thank you” was not my style(stīl), I decided to try it.

Walking home from work, I approached(əˈprōCH) a neighbor on a ribbon(ˈribən) of sidewalk that passes for Main Street in our Wisconsin(wisˈkänsən) town. I smiled and waved as we neared each other. Caren(krən) smiled and waved back and when I was within earshot(ˈi(ə)rˌSHät), she shouted(SHout), “I like your dress!”

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https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/17/opinion/sunday/how-accept-compliment.html