Notes from Steve

I am going on vacation in a couple of weeks. (I’ve already started packing).  Everyone, it seems, is sick right now, and that is not acceptable (with my vacation plans), so I’m doing all things possible to avoid everyone.  Plus - I’m eating blueberries and working out to a sweaty mess to purge all the evil toxins.  (If you are sick or have been exposed, and you infect me and force me to cough during all of my vacation … sigh … just stay home if you are sick.)

My new phrase that I’m rolling out is the “unsolicited compliment”.  I define it as a compliment you didn’t ask for.  Like “Oh Steve, I like your new glasses!*”.  The unsolicited compliment is honest and a nice thing to receive.  The solicited compliment is “I got new glasses - what do you think?” … “Oh, they’re new, huh? … yes, they are nice.**”  If you have to ask, then the compliment probably is forced and potentially not true.  I shaved off my beard on Friday, and the fact that no one ever said anything unless I asked - I decided that the rule of the solicited compliment was in force - it was awful, and no one was brave enough to tell me.  I asked Jordan, and she said, “You were growing a beard?”  (… long defeated sigh …)  There have been times (and I know some people saw it) that I’ve worn my sweater accidentally inside out, and nobody told me.

I’m going to actively practice unsolicited compliments.  I’m going to encourage others to do this as well.  And if I see you wearing your clothes inside out, I’m going to make an effort to tell you.  

(scene from the movie Splash)