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Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Why thank you, I am awesome

I consider myself a very humble person.  In fact, most days I don't think I'm anything special.  And I'm horrible at taking a compliment.  If I do something different with my hair (aka, something other than put it up in a messy ponytail) I often say "ugh, yeah, but I'm going gray and it needs color".  If I have friends over for dinner and they tell me my cooking is great, I respond with "it's just a very simple recipe and nothing special".  Even when my husband tells me I'm beautiful, or smart, or funny, I roll my eyes and tell him I am not as great as he thinks.

Why can't I just take a compliment?

It's something that I'm working on.  A very special person told me recently that I need to learn to love me for me and all the things that I offer to people.  I talked to Tom a long time about this tonight.  The problem is, I have a hard time seeing it.  Besides struggling with the whole inner and outer beauty thing, I don't think the life I live is that special - I do what I do because I enjoy it... be it working, volunteering, exercising, cooking, laughing, shopping, sleeping, etc.  Yes, I generally do good things.  I live by the rule of "treat people as you would want to be treated".  I am loyal and honest and hard working.  I take risks, I love with all my heart, I'm not a quitter.


Do you struggle with this?  Do you take compliments well?  Do you love yourself for who you are and what you have to offer?  Just some food for thought...

And the next time someone tells me something good about me, I'm going to work on just saying "thank you". Heck, I might even agree with them and say "Thank you, I am pretty awesome".

26 comments:

MCM Mama said...

I love that. I think we all have trouble taking compliments, but "thank you, I am awesome" rocks as a response!

Shannon (IronTexasMommy) said...

I completely get this! Most of my remarks to compliments are self-deprecating. This is a good reminder to just say thank you, even when it feels uncomfortable to do so. And, BTW- I think you're pretty awesome! :)

Caroline said...

Oh I am THE worst. My husband tells me all the time. I do the rolling of the eyes, I change the subject...

I am very good at taking compliments on my KIDS though!!!

Matthew Smith said...

You Rock! ...and you're welcome! I totally get this as well. It's so easy to just brush compliments and accolades off or just not see it. But, I think it's healthy to hear what other people are seeing too. Take the compliments...you deserve it.

Steve said...

Geez, I am not really sure. I don't think anyone ever compliments me on anything. :)

Have a good one Colleen. :)

Heather said...

Ugh, I am horrible at this, too. I swear I roll my eyes at least once a day from something my husband says.

Jon said...

You ARE awesome!!!

Carolina John said...

It is actually a skill that has to be learned. In the deep south we only want to give and are taught to feel guilty about receiving. Doing or saying something nice for other people instantly makes us uncomfortable when someone else does or says something nice about us.

Case in point: once I gave a friend of mine about $300 in gift cards when I was getting out of this one program and couldn't use them anymore. Then about 5 years later I had completely forgotten about it when I ran into this guy again and he gave me back some of the same program money - enough to get lunch at this bbq place for me and the wife. I felt guilty accepting it. But he felt pride in being able to repay something he considered a debt even though I didn't expect it.

You remember back in high school when social norms were still forming? I know there were tons of girls that I thought were way to pretty and just totally out of my league. Turns out, some of those same girls thought I was totally out of their league. Everybody has the same hangups about self-worth and it's very difficult to accept.

Molly said...

I get embarrassed when I get a compliment. I usually answer with an "Oh, thanks" then I blush and change the subject : )

Kim said...

you and i have had this conversation before friend, and we are two peas in a pod. i am trying to learn to say "thank you" instead of making a joke or passing it off as a joke. love you friend!

Heather-O said...

I feel the same way...never know how to respond to a compliment. Saying "thank you" seems so simple, so why is it so hard to do?!!?!?!?!

Alisa said...

I think it's hard for those of us that don't want to sound like conceited biotches :).

Yes, you are awesome!

Alisa said...

That may or may not have sounded slightly Richard Simmons-esque.

Rachelle said...

I don't take compliments well at all. Whenever Ben compliments me, I always say, "You're only saying that because you're my husband and you're supposed to."

Christi said...

I struggle with this all the time!

Emz said...

thank you.
thank you.
thank you.

freaking love this post.

Why can't I just take a compliment?
I'll amen to that.
I was raised to be humble almost toooooooooooooo humble. too much. I do not accept compliments well.

To you I say - you freaking rock.
You say back - Why thank you, Emz, I know. :)

Jason said...

You may or may not remember this but years ago Terrell Owens had a quote that has stuck with me and something I love.

He said: I Love Me, Some Me

Now he was being obnoxious but for me it was so true. If I don't love myself how will anybody else love me? I take care of myself so that I can take care of others.

I don't get jealous of others and don't compare myself to them either because this is my life and not theirs. That is their life and not mine.

Love You, Some You

Unknown said...

I've thought a lot about this lately too. Why can't I just be happy with me RIGHT NOW? I have a great job, a great boyfriend, a great family, I do what I love, but there is a sense of un-happiness and it drives me nuts.

Carole Sharpless said...

I'd agree with that. You are pretty awesome.

MissFancyPants said...

Awesome post, we all need to do this more :)

Sara said...

I love this post. And I can totally relate. I don't take compliments well either and sometimes I assume people "have" to say it. Like, my husband "has" to think I am beautiful.

I think you are pretty awesome too. And beautiful. I always like reading your posts!

Thanks for sharing and for being so open about this. I can relate. And it's not easy to talk about.

Matty O said...

Never in my life have I taken a compliment well. Still don't.

Low self esteem :) Curse and a blessing.

Nicole Orriëns said...

I once read an article about being able to take a compliment, and since then I have improved my ways!

Nowadays I say: 'Thank you! That's so nice to hear!'

Mom's Home Run

TriMOEngr said...

Before I read your last paragraph, I was going to say "Practice taking compliments with a simple THANK YOU", but you beat me to it and improved upon it. Yes, you are awesome.

Unknown said...

Yes, you are awesome! I do know what you mean though :)

Unknown said...

I think this is a fatal flaw of women, in general. We never feel like we're quite measuring up - socially or professionally. So when we do receive a compliment, we discount it because we have so many negative thoughts consuming us.

We control what we think and feel. If we re-program our noodle, receiving compliments will be expected and welcomed rather than shocking and feel as if we're not worthy. You totally are :).