Random old guy in line at the grocery store had looked behind him and did a double take. He says “your glasses remind me of—“ he turned to his wife (I think) “dear, what’s his name? John something.”
Without missing a beat: “Elton John.”
Turns back to me “yes! Elton John!”
It’s my favorite compliment I’ve gotten on my huge heart-shaped glasses. (And they’re prescription too!)
The most memorable one for me came from a middle aged bartender. I am pale and have long blonde hair and was wearing a royal blue dress. He gave me the most fatherly smile and said, “Wow, you look just like a princess! You’re just missing your crown!” It was just so wholesome and not creepy at all.
Women usually get very superficial compliments. My best compliment was strangely enough given to me by my high school bio teacher. He always treated me as if I was more intelligent than the other students, but in a not obvious way so the others wouldn’t feel belittled. One day we were speaking about human nature and weird personality traits. He told me out of nowhere that I had the most unreadable personality, but in the best way possible. He said he could never read me, and could never tell what I would do or say next and he enjoyed that. It was “never boring” to have me in class because of this. It sounds creepy now that I write it out, but it’s not, he has a wife and kids and would just discuss life with me. Nothing more.
This stuck with me for a long time for some reason. It was so genuine and unique.
I was talking to a friend and said something about how I wouldn’t last a day in prison. He responded, “are you kidding me? You’d be running that place in a week.”
My whole life I’ve felt overlooked, and that people underestimate me. I also regularly deal with imposter syndrome, so when I feel like I’m not good enough for something, if I really want it I will feel the need to over-explain myself to others.
I was working in the kitchen at a summer camp where we served enough food to feed 500+ people until they were satisfied. I asked my lead if I could be in charge of sending out the main course and the seconds for it. I was trying to convince him that I knew what I was doing and that I could handle it. He said, “Hey. I know you can. You‘re more than capable, and you’re one of the most hardworking people in this kitchen.”
I genuinely almost cried on the spot. There have been very few moments in my life where I have felt that validated and seen.