Thursday, November 15, 2007

And on a lighter note....


Okay. Here's where I ask for opinions. :)

This morning I had to take my housemate over to the Surgery Center. She had foot surgery. That meant getting up at 5.30 AM, getting me ready, waking her up, getting her there by 6.30 AM. That in itself was the easiest part.

I hope this doesn't sound too vain, but I actually spent time getting dressed, all my Thai finery. Somehow, it made me feel better, not so tired. Besides, well, it's just what I do.

While she had surgery, I walked over to Safeway to pick up a few groceries and take a walk around the area.

Then I went back to the lobby and read a book for a few hours until they told me I could drive her home.

During that three-hour period, I got five compliments on my clothes.

Two at Safeway and three at the Surgery Center.

I really took it in and might have smiled too wide when I said "thank you" and the smile probably lasted too long.

I am not a prideful person in any regard and really try to avoid allowing my ego to get in the way of my common sense. Yet at the same time, I so appreciated those compliments. They made me feel good.

So I drank them in.

Do you think that's prideful of me ~ or vain?

Just wondering. That's not why I do the clothes but it certainly does encourage me. :)

~*

36 comments:

flutter said...

No, I think it's called responding appropriately to something that makes you feel nice.

It's ok to do that :)

Anonymous said...

Neither "prideful" or "vain". In my Tao, I'd call it a healthy ability to receive.

And that ain't always so easy. 'Specially for the "givers".

Balance.
Balance.
Giving and receiving.

And I'll bet you look gorgeous in the attire. I'd love to see a pic or ten.
:)

--

Rima said...

Take it from a woman who recently posted pictures of her beautiful glossy hair on the internets - I think you're well within the realm of what's considered an appropriate response to a complement!

Sometimes feeling good about yourself makes it just that much easier to spread the love around.

And I'd love to see a picture of you in that outfit, as well!

Christine said...

not vain at all. it is just a good feeling when some one says something nice or kind. it is like, psycho therapist said, "the healthy ability to receive"

QT said...

There is nothing wrong with compliments, Chani. And often, we get them when we are doing nothing more than just being ourselves. People can sense when someone is trying to hard. You must have looked so comfortable in your own skin.

Anonymous said...

It would have been prideful and vain if you had gone out with the attitude that you were better than everyone else- but that's not what happened. Normal people feel good when they are complimented.

It's not a sin to be happy, Chani.

meno said...

It's also not a sin to be pleased at a compliment.

Picture????

Julie Pippert said...

No, not vain or prideful. You offered beauty and culture through your dress, and people responded with gratitude, which you graciously accepted. This is called positive interaction, and is how humans ought to be more often.

Julie
Using My Words

Sensitiva McFeelingsly said...

Yes, drink 'em in!! You deserve them!

It isn't vanity to enjoy a compliment, it's vanity to expect them.

:)

Anonymous said...

The worst thing is someone who does not appreciate a compliment. I am glad you are not someone like that...

heartinsanfrancisco said...

Prideful or vain? Hell, no. You must have been raised by my mother, though. She thought that I was vain if I looked in the mirror.

We are all in this world together. We notice each other, unless we are blind or our eyes only turn inward.

I would take the compliments as affirmation of how right you look in Thai clothing if even strangers pick up on it.

And by the way, you look mahvelous, dolling, mahvellous.

Ian Lidster said...

Yesterday, following a meeting, a woman I know said to me: "Ian, you have the most beautiful blue eyes." She added that she wasn't hitting on me but said that since men compliment women on their looks often (with no ulterior motive), and that she had no ulterior motive. I thank her for it, and I just felt a little lighter for the rest of the day. Prideful or vain of me? I don't care. It felt good. And you did too following your compliment. I think we need these things.

painted maypole said...

it's OK to feel good about yourself. You felt good because the clothes are a reflection of YOU. you chose them because they make you smile. You should feel joy that they made someone else smile, too.

LittlePea said...

Of course that's not vanity! Compliments like that should be drank in!

Nothing wrong with a little self-pride.

Girlplustwo said...

i agree with everyone else...drink those sweet compliments in.

Aliki2006 said...

Of course it's not vain! Compliments like that make me flush warm inside, and that;s not a sign of vanity. I think if one were to consciously seek out compliments all the time that might cross some boundaries, but feeling good about a freely-given compliment? That's a wonderful thing.

S said...

neither prideful nor vain.

just right.

i'm happy that the compliments made you happy. they should.

SUEB0B said...

I think the only time you have to worry is if you are attached to your clothes - would you be miserable without them? Would you be willing to make someone else miserable so you could get or keep them? If not, no worries. Enjoy and keep spreading beauty.

x said...

Aren't people admiring your clothes simply sharing your aesthetic appreciation of them? They are things. They are not you. People love looking at beautiful things in mundane environments, especially. It lifts their spirits.

Anvilcloud said...

It's natural to enjoy being noticed and appreciated. There's good pride and bad pride, I think.

KGMom said...

Heck, no it is neither prideful nor vain.
Anymore than dressing in a slouching manner would indicate humility.

Anonymous said...

I'm not understanding how accepting a compliment leads to vanity or pride. You looked good, and people noticed. Them noticing made you feel good. I don't think that is vanity or pride. I think its confirmation you chose well when getting dressed. :)

Janet said...

Everyone appreciate a compliment. These ones just happened to be about your appearance, there is nothing wrong with accepting that. And liking it.

Anonymous said...

I think it would be sinful not to enjoy a sincere compliment. And I'm sure you looked beautiful.

And sorry about the word verification. I started getting spammed at about fifty messages a day. But I will remove it tomorrow.

Liv said...

I think you should receive good from the universe. If people offer up kindness, you should drink it in.

Peter Clothier said...

Just call it the glow of human pleasure. "Vanity" is when you need it, and hang on to it.

mitzh said...

What flutter said, compliments are good and it makes you feel good.

Savor it!

Mary said...

Pride? Vain? No. Affirmation, yes. We all need it.

And, I feel great when I look good. The feeling is written all over my face.

Soak it up, Chani!

Doe Grozs Art said...

This makes me think we should all go out and compliment each other more often..
would love to see the outfit :-)
Doreen

Catherine said...

I haven't read the other comments, so I may just be the 30th person who says this, but...

I once heard someone say that true humility is often mistaken for pride, and true pride for humility. Meaning, humility lacks self-awareness, as in a child. If you give a child a genuine compliment, she will beam. She will have no internal dialogue about "what is the appropriate response to this?" She'll just beam.

I think pride often keeps us from humbly accepting compliments; instead we shake them off or deceive by saying "what, this old thing?" I think the fact that you felt genuine pleasure at the compliments is a sign of humility (assuming, of course, that you didn't spend time judging others for their clothes, which I doubt you did.)

Can I see a picture? :)

Anonymous said...

No, I don't think that's vain. I think you're taking care in how you present yourself and why shouldn't you feel good that others notice.

Of course, if I were you, I'd likely have the same misgivings.

Ah, we're so fickle...

blooming desertpea said...

Well, after all those times people have oogled at you and thinking "what the hell is she thinking in dressing this way" or "she is definitely an oddball", I think you have all the right to feel good about receiving compliments. I does show you that there actually are people who think it's a great way of dressing!

So, I order you - do feel good!

Angela said...

Prideful? Vain? I think not my dear. So what if people think you look good? YOU DO!!

crazymumma said...

I would have been one of those people.

And I do not think it is prideful or vain at all. Taking pride is a good thing.

enigma4ever said...

you were grateful...as long as you feel gratitude...you are not vain....( so I am now dying to see what you wearing.....that is not vanity..that is just curiousity ;-)

Wayfarer Scientista said...

what every one else said :) sorry I haven't been commenting...I'm reading I just haven't had anything to add to the discussions.