How do you deal with compliments ?

I am in agreement with Sheilasue. I like to think that I receive compliments graciously.

A few days ago I went to a neighbour's house for coffee. They have spent months doing it up and he mentioned that I had not stopped giving compliments the minute I entered the front door. It took a lot of money and hard work so why not give a few compliments?

I try to make a point of complimenting young mums on their good parenting if I can do it in a situation where they look like they need it and without it sounding patronizing. It's amazing how pleased a parent is with a quiet "you're doing a great job" accompanied by a smile and a wink when they're interacting well with a toddler who testing their patience!

You are worthy Gillybob. I often read your posts. I think you're wonderful.

Me too Gilly I loved your relationship with your nan. You seem so kind and caring and I think you are just like me - not the kind and caring bit (although I hope I am) but the unworthy bit! I think we had a similar childhood. I have never felt wothy of anything that I have. It's sad isn't it?

If and when ?? complimented I will only respond with a 'Thank you that's nice/kind of you'

Give them often and in a heartfelt way but receive them? Hopeless, always feel the need to refute what is said and put myself down, wish I could just be gracious.

I gained a POst Grad Cert in my fifties. It was completed over 16 months, while I was working full time as well. It was hard work, and very stressful. I had been asked by my employer to undertake this, and I went along with it, not realising what was involved. At the end, my husband said that he'd have thought more of me if I'd had the sense to refuse to do it. He just couldn't see any point in putting that much effort into anything. I never bothered mentioning to anyone that I'd completed it , and passed, after that.
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Point of my post - no compliments there then!

Can I be the first to congratulate you then ? Very well done xxxxxx

Many congratulations grannybuy, I know how much work goes into a post grad and, for you to have worked full time whilst doing it was a huge achievment, well done.

I like to think I receive compliments graciously, and try to smile and say 'thank you'. I do like to say something nice about someone, and recently, whilst talking to a blind friend I mentioned that her hair looked really lovely, shining in the sunlight, and it suddenly occurred to me that she could neither see her hair, or the sun, and felt somewhat awkward. However, she was really kind, and said how nice it was that her hairdresser had done so well, and she (my friend) could feel the sun!

Same here Ana. I find it embarrassing to receive compliments. But I certainly don't mind giving them where they are due, especially to young people who always seem to get bad press.

I used to teach teenagers and sometimes they would make sarcastic 'compliments' as a way of being rude. If I got annoyed their peers thought it was funny or clever, so I used to make a big thing of treating it as a real compliment, which took the wind out of their sails. However now when someone compliments me my first reaction is to think they don't mean it!

I love giving compliments, particularly to strangers. I've been known to say to a nurse who was taking my pulse 'I know one shouldn't comment on someone's appearence but your hair looks wonderful'. Bless her, she positively glowed. I've also told complete strangers that their dress/coat/blouse or whatever was lovely. They all seemed to walk away with a spring in their steps. As for accepting compliments, I do find that a bit more difficult, except on the rare occasions I have taken real trouble with my appearance.

I , unlike Hillyn took compliments from students at face value or else I or they were very innocent!
Knowing how critical teenage girls can be I took a lot of trouble with my appearance , what I wore and a point of not wearing the same clothes every day. One girl actually asked me if I ever wore the same thing twice and we both had a laugh as I had to think carefully.

Aslemma - I do that too and 'with a spring in their step' is spot on for the reaction.

Teenagers try it on, you just have to deal with comments as seems best, a bit like a standup does with hecklers. A boy said I should lose weight or I'd be dead by 40. I, 42, fluttered my eyelashes and said ''Flatterer!' to the amusement of his peers.

I bumped into a friend in the high street one day and we stopped for a chat, as you do. A total stranger apologised for interrupting but said she just had to tell me how much she liked the jacket I was wearing. I smiled and thanked her, said that it was very kind of her to say so, and off she went. I was so pleased I'd managed to hold in my initial response, which would have been "What this old thing? I bought it from M&S Outlet years ago!" (It is still a nice jacket though )

I'm trying to stifle my habit of, should something I wear be admired, providing TMI. I hear myself explaining exactly where and when I bought it, how much I paid (if a bargain) or who gave it to me. Garrulous Gran strikes again!

Still love my peony patterned Joules harbour top, sleeves 3/4 so right for my short arms. It reminds me of a lovely visit to Chelsea Flower Show two years ago when it suddenly turned cold and I needed another layer. Full price I think but I'm getting plenty of wear out of it.
The M&S boat shoes were bought to wear after the knee op ...

See what I mean?! Shut up, Elrel!!