For the love of water and words.
Why do we do not take the glass of water. We have all had this experience you have been invited in to someone's house and the offer you a glass of water. If you are like me you say 'no thank you' as a matter of course. I hate that about me. It is just a glass of water. You need water, and I like drinking water. Still unless I am dying of thirst I will say 'thank you I am fine.' Why is that?
After thinking about it for a while here is what I have come up with. We as people believe that it is polite to not burden our hosts. It is polite for them to ask and polite for us to decline. As a host you would be horrified to know that a guest of your was in need of something you could freely give. As a guest you would feel awful if you took something the host ended up needing latter. Welcome to the perils of social etiquette.
But water is not what made me think about this. It is something far easier to give and much harder to accept. If I walk up and told you how nice I thought your smile was, what would you do? If you are like most people I know you would either make light of the compliment or flat contradict it. These are the things I have done and I hate it. What is wrong with me that I cannot just accept something I want and need so much? Positive reinforcement is so easy to dismiss.
So I awhile back I made a decision. I was going to come up with a responds that had no humor and completely accepted the compliment. I think I have a good, let me try it on you and see what you think… "Thank you."
What did you think? Original and creative? I have found it is easier to give as well as receive compliments now that I have come up with a responds. Now too work on that glass of water….