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Jenovia 🕸️'s avatar

Yes! Loved this piece. I love giving compliments. I feel just as much joy giving them as I do receiving them. It's such a wonderful way to put a pep in someone else's step. Thank you for brightening my day, Amelia!

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Amelia Wilson's avatar

of course! and I can imagine you're excellent at giving thoughtful compliments!

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Soul Musing's avatar

I love this Amelia, there is so much joy to be had in both giving and receiving kindness Recently my niece told me she loves listening to my voice notes, as she finds my voice calming. I stored this little exchange in my heart for safekeeping.

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Amelia Wilson's avatar

Oh what a lovely thing for her to say! Thank you for sharing that - it inspires me to compliment people on their voices - such a nice thing to notice! ❤️

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Little Writing Corner's avatar

Dear Amelia, Thank you for bringing us the joy, the happy, of compliments on a weekend when a lot of people will have benefitted from this. You are fab! I love giving compliments and have learned to receive them with kindness, a smile and a thank you. I love Troy and his jolly approach! Thanks again for your post. Have a great weekend!

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Amelia Wilson's avatar

thank you so much for reading, and for your lovely compliment! welcome to Happy on Purpose! xo Amelia

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Tessa Broad's avatar

A lovely lovely post on a day when I happened to be looking at a very old teenage diary (1976) for a Substack post I was writing & saw my 15 year old self had been told that my Grandma who had just died always said I had such pretty eyes… it made my day!! Then reading this I am, as you do, going to dedicate a journal to nice things said about me and my writing to peruse on those ‘less than’ days. I too am a serial complimenter- love seeing people puff up with pleasure…it’s such an easy thing to do. I also have friends who never compliment…& I wonder what that’s all about? Thank you for this.

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Amelia Wilson's avatar

It's so true that people "puff up" with pleasure - that's exactly it! I highly recommend the "nice things" doc - I should probably make a habit of checking it every day! Thank you for reading and for sharing your thoughts!

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Jolene Handy's avatar

Love receiving and giving compliments! Thanks for this post, Amelia! As always, terrific! ❤️

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Amelia Wilson's avatar

Allow me to give you another one: you are one of the most stylish and sophisticated Chicagoans I know!

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Jolene Handy's avatar

Thank you, Amelia! And you bring glamour and enthusiasm to everything you do!

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Sara H's avatar

Thank you for introducing me to Troy Hawk!

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Amelia Wilson's avatar

quite a good rabbit hole for you! 😉

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Kacee's avatar

Troy Hawke clips are amazing - absolutely a go-to for a hit of dopamine! 😍

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Amelia Wilson's avatar

I kinda want to BE him!

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Kacee's avatar

Same!

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Libby Waterford's avatar

I love giving and getting compliments, though I usually try not to compliment someone's physical appearance (unless maybe it's about accessories). Some people have a hard time receiving compliments, but all you have to say is, "Thank you." Thanks for this great post!

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Amelia Wilson's avatar

I find that the older I get, the easier it is for me to graciously accept compliments. When I was younger, I got so weird and flustered. Another benefit of age?

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Libby Waterford's avatar

For sure!!!

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Alison Rosby's avatar

Oh my word, I can’t believe it! Today a woman complimented me in a National Trust car park on my outfit, so I decided the outfit deserved to be saved for posterity on Instagram (and by the way, I NEVER do selfies!)

I had just posted it, checked my email, and there was THIS in my inbox! Spooky.

Still buzzing from a compliment from a total stranger, and planning to ‘pay it forward’. 🤗

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Amelia Wilson's avatar

oh yay, Alison, I am so glad to hear this! please share the Insta link so we can all see your glorious outfit!

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Alison Rosby's avatar

I don’t know how to share a link, but I’m @thequickbrownfoxuk !

Love the post, especially the Mark Twain quote… the man had a quote for every eventuality!❤️

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Amelia Wilson's avatar

just found and followed you on Insta! I love your elegant linen, and especially those pink shoelaces! your weather looks a LOT better than ours!

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Meg Dallas Edwards's avatar

I am a dedicated complimenter! I love the interaction!

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Amelia Wilson's avatar

yay for you Meg! do you have any tips or go-tos?

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Meg Dallas Edwards's avatar

It is easy to compliment women, and genuinely. I have begun to make my move into male territory. For young fellows I am old enough to not appear to be flirting with them, so that works, but I don't compliment men my age often. I was joking that men don't need compliments about their clothes or appearance as much, so maybe the best compliments would be on their kind or gentlemanly behaviour, their thoughtfulness!

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Amelia Wilson's avatar

Love this! I tend not to give men compliments on their clothing choices but when I do, they seem appreciative! Parenting and cooking are two go-to's for me with men. Also, puzzle-solving skills. All the midlife men I know are obsessed with doing the online NYT puzzles 🤣

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Meg Dallas Edwards's avatar

lol yes and sudoku

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Amelia Wilson's avatar

🤣🤣🤣

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Kathleen Donahoe's avatar

One of my secret rules for compliments is to focus on what a person has chosen rather than their circumstances. I don't comment on bodies or jobs, but rather on clothing, behavior, or other things I know the person actively selected. These compliments feel better to receive, I think, and this approach helps me pay close attention to others, which is one of my favorite things to do.

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Amelia Wilson's avatar

so wise! there really is an art to giving compliments well (and memorably) and I love your secret rule! compliment goals!

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Amelia Wilson's avatar

Dear Happy on Purpose readers: You’re smart, kind, thoughtful, curious, and loyal (and really, really ridiculously good looking!). Thank you for being here!

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