Make It Yours

I want to thank everyone that is putting up comments about all the dread action, I really appreciate your excitement and likeness towards it. Comments are always welcome, and awesome.

Today was one of those days where a genuine compliment goes a long way. It's been a theme of several recent conversations of mine about compliments to strangers and how I only remember very few but genuine compliments over the past few years. I think of some of the nicest things I want to say to strangers but I never do. I've come to the realization that I do not do so because a lot of people compliment me but it's just so unoriginal and non-genuine that I usually forget about it a couple minutes after the fact. All I can think is, "yeah, haven't heard that one before." It's not touching, not lasting, not real. I'm all about the real. I hope that anytime I use the word 'real' in a post, that you read it with great emphasis, because that is how I always intend for the word to be used. Because I get so many unmemorable compliments I very much hate for my own compliments to be wasted so I just don't do it at all [to strangers, that is]. It is very important to me that my words, especially good words, are not to be taken lightly. Because I'm a very genuine and passionate person and have no intentions of coming off as anything otherwise. I've been somewhat convinced by friends that it probably wouldn't be the case, that a stranger would probably understand that I truly do mean the words I express. So, back to my story, I was working this morning, and noticed an older woman and man sitting outside on the bench smoking cigarettes. As I was helping a customer, the woman walks into my store. When I finished with that customer I walked to the woman and asked if she needed any help with anything. She told me that she didn't need anything but just wanted to tell me that I'm beautiful. I instantly give her a shy, real, smile. She said that no one smiles anymore, or say things from the heart. I kept agreeing with her and that no one is genuine anymore. She began to tell me that no one could be any more genuine than herself. She was in a car accident 21 years ago, was in a coma for 3 months, died on the operating table, and here she stands in front of me. Make your day yours, what you want it to be. Tell people how you feel and make their day and/or lives better. She continued that nobody realizes that their lives could be taken away just like the snap of a finger. It is true. And I will remember her.