End of the second week!

Today was Positive Bombardment day in PSD. Basic rules: one person is in the middle. Everyone else bombards that person with compliments--preferably deeper than "I like your shoes." No response but "thank you" is allowed from the wo/man in the middle.

It's so healthy to have a chance to practice receiving compliments. Giving them to anyone but very close friends at very specific times is perceived as weird, and perhaps a little intrusive, yet I don't know any cheaper, faster, easier way to perk someone up. A random compliment from an acquaintance--something as simple as "You did a really nice job handling that coach today/contributing in class/choosing a cute dress" makes my day for the next week.

People are so starved for genuine praise! Even most of the positive comments we give children are too general to be of any use; a "Nice job" or "keep it up" is on the right track, but doesn't quite have the resonance of "Jim, that poem is beautiful. I love the way you described your swingset with such specific details and exciting words!" Not only does it pin a gold star directly on the kid's hard work, it tells him specifically what to keep doing. Improvement to self-esteem as well as self; it's amazing what a good compliment can do.

I've been trying to rediscover the art of the compliment the past few years. I compliment strangers on cute clothes (the resulting grin and "Thanks!" is priceless), I conscientiously compliment and thank students on their behavior and work, I make an effort to compliment my friends and coworkers on something within our first few interactions every day.

The effect on people is astounding; we love receiving compliments! Post-bombardment today, everyone in the classroom left smiling and laughing and group-hugging. This is an example of very concentrated complimenting, but think of that attitude spread across a campus or community, little by little, one piece of praise at a time. It's free, and essentially risk-free, too.

It's something that can make a difference.