Please accept this compliment

You are pretty awesome. And, I'm not the only one who thinks so. There are more people than you realize who think you're great.

The thing is—you need to believe it.

In the last week, I've witnessed a number of people unable to, or awkwardly, accept a compliment. It struck me that something needed to be said. (If you think this is about you, know that you have a lot of company.)

I'm not one to compliment lightly. If I like you, I want you to know it.

I want you to know it every day. Perhaps twice a day on multiple media from a text of encouragement to a heart sent anonymously in the mail.

I get a lot out of sharing my love with the people I care about. I go on hug tours after all, and encourage others to do the same. The people you care about want to know you care. A hug is a great way to show it...so is a compliment.

And like any gift, when you give it, you want to know it's appreciated.

Here's where accepting compliments becomes important.

Not accepting a compliment, or not believing that it's true, is like giving back a wrapped present unopened.

Thank you, but I can't accept this.

Who wants to experience that?

As a compliment-giver, it feels so good to know that I've made someone happy. The best part about my hug tours is knowing that this person's day is better because of my simple, heartfelt gesture.

When I compliment someone and they can't or won't accept it, I'm sad. Sometimes it makes me try harder to get them to believe the compliment, but that gets old fast. 

The more you don't accept what people generously have to give, the less likely you are to receive those things again.

Imagine what happens then. It means you will not get the thing you really want:  LOVE.

Because that's what this is about, isn't it?

We all want to be loved and appreciated for who we are. Somewhere along the way it became complicated. I'm sorry about that.

But no matter what happened in the past, you have a chance now to get the love and appreciation you want.

Read this next part carefully:

To get what you want more than anything, you have to be willing to accept it. With open arms.

That's scary stuff. And it also is one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. That's my experience anyway.

All of this starts with a simple compliment. The next time you receive one, hear it. Take in the words and know that this person is giving you a precious gift.

By accepting it fully, with open arms, you give something precious back to the giver, and you give yourself the greatest gift of all.

Love.