We are pleased to announce that on March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor will be introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the upcoming changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

Compliments are important.

jefedesalto
jefedesalto Posts: 154 Member
edited January 5 in Motivation and Support
Sometimes we forget just how important they are. I'd like to share a story that just happened about 5 minutes ago.

I was on my way back from the restroom when I passed by this woman (she is also a soldier in the Army with me) that I haven't seen in about 2 months. She is a big girl and I have to admit that I have been guilty of judging her in the past. It's terrible when a Military person looks morbidly obese. Well I won't make that mistake again.

I didn't know particulars of her story but I just found out that she had serious thyroid issues this past year.

So when I saw her this time after 2 months, her uniform looked to be fitting with a lot more slack and her weight loss was noticeable. Not very noticeable but after struggling with my weight I was able to see it. So I took the risk and decided to ask her if she had lost weight. Which is sometimes a gamble as the Army is very, very strict on sexual harassment and asking questions like that.

Well I got nervous because at first, it looked like she was about to cry. Then she just exhaled and said, "Oh my God... Thank you for noticing. I just left the gym and was starting to ask myself 'Why bother' because I have been working my butt off for 3 months and nobody has seemed to notice." She then told me about her health issues. So I told her that I'm glad she was losing and that she looked great and to keep it up.

I was blown away by her reaction and just had to share this. All too easily we forget how much a few kind words can reignite someones motivation and elevate their self esteem. So today I am going to issue a challenge to myself. I am going to try to pay a compliment to at least one stranger every day.

Replies

  • 295mt
    295mt Posts: 6
    Great story, thank you for sharing!! Compliments usually mean more than we think when we give one! You're a good example to us all. Oh, and way to go- just noticed you're almost to your goal!!!! Awesome!
  • QTRARO
    QTRARO Posts: 75 Member
    I agree. I like to compliment people and try to be more aware of others as it's easy to get caught up in ourselves.

    I love compliments too, getting told how I've lost weight and things is a nice feeling mostly old friends and old work colleagues I bump into notice it more rather than people I see everyday as it's been gradual :)

    There are people I work with here who have lost 16kg and another has lost 11kg using MFP.. amazing really I should compliment them more. It does feel a little awkward complimenting men though especially in the office so have to be a bit careful.
  • Rum_Runner
    Rum_Runner Posts: 617 Member
    Very true!!

    Thank you for sharing - great story!!!
  • Sweetpea472
    Sweetpea472 Posts: 229 Member
    That's a wonderful story; thank you so much for sharing! I think your goal is admirable, and I'd like to join you in such a wonderful endeavor!
  • spud_chick
    spud_chick Posts: 2,640 Member
    You hit on one reason people avoid mentioning it sometimes; the fear of a sexual harassment scenario makes people afraid to say something complimentary, especially at work where people see us the most and are in a good position to notice. I went down two pants sizes before anyone at my work said anything to me (and it wasn't a man). None of my husband's family who saw me at Thanksgiving said anything even though they hadn't seen me since I started losing. My husband has been so thrilled that I'm exercising at all I guess I feel like he'd say nice things no matter how I looked. Funny how it matters more from a stranger :)
This discussion has been closed.

Categories