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Turning the complaints into compliments

People rush to complain but pause to compliment.  Letra Davis

Ever notice this?  I didn't realize how true it is until I read it put this way!
Somewhere along the way of life we were taught to speak in the negative rather than the positive.  It's rare to hear optimism these days, the norm is negativity and if someone chooses to go against the grain and focus on positivity they are labeled "weird" or "annoying".  I know that I annoy some people at my workplace with my cheerfulness.  Not that I am Miss Positive all the time but as the "face of YL" (i.e. the first face guests see when they enter our building) I am cheerful and pleasant more often than not.  And I am that way with our employees as well.  Some of them are bugged big time by it.  It's kinda funny really so with them I am usually extra cheerful. :) (How's that for revenge?!)  The ones bugged by it are the ones who are typical of today's quote - they are the complainers and very rarely the complimenters.  I, even before reading these wise words, am the opposite.  I try to be mindful of what's coming out of my mouth (and heart) and I purpose to compliment, or be positive, more than I complain.  Some days I fail, others I succeed but I'm always aware.  Even on my failure days I'm aware.  And being aware is half the battle right? Or so I'm told.  
As far as complimenting, or being positive about someone or something, is it gonna kill you to be upbeat for once?  I mean really!  It's the hardest for me to be positive or complimenting toward someone who annoys me.  So I'm issuing a challenge to myself and you today.  Compliment someone who bugs you.  Find something, because there is something, that you can thank them for - praise them for - acknowledge them for, and tell them.  I already hate this challenge and it may take me all day to come up with something for my person but darn it, I'm gonna do it and you should to!  The rub is that we are all *that* person in someones world, we all bug someone.  So what would change if we rushed to compliment and paused to complain?  I imagine there would be quite a few changes, some of which we couldn't even dream up.  So let's together purpose to turn our complaints around into compliments and then watch to see what might happen.   

(If I start getting some compliments or praise today after I see people have read this I will be suspicious... *grin*.  No, I know I'm annoying and for way more reasons than my cheerfulness at the front desk of YL. Somewhere out there my husband just said, "Amen." Ha!)

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