when thanks just isn’t enough

July 13th, 2006 @ 10:30 pm | blonde moments | Post a Comment

Boss: I really like your [Charles David black pointy-toed] shoes.
Me, outloud: Thanks, gotta love DSW clearance!
Me, silently: OMG, is he telling me I should stop wearing flip-flops every day? Does he judge me for my flip-flop addiction? Does he think I am unprofessional simply because I like for my toes to breathe?

Andrew: That bikini top looks great on you.
Me, outloud: Thanks, honey. It’s for the honeymoon. Yay! Honeymoon!
Me, silently: What about the bottom? My butt! My thighs! They must be huge. My stomach rolls, gahhhh. Can I please just wear a muu muu from the ribs down?

Coworker: Your lunch smells really yummy.
Me, outloud: Thanks, it’s leftover homemade pasta from last night.
Me, silently: Wait, she totally knows I am on a diet. She must be mentally calculating just how many gajillion calories are in a serving of my delicious carbalicious pasta and thinking, No wonder you are STILL on that damn diet!

Coach: Hey Janet, I talked with a physical trainer and got some good exercises for you to do to improve your posture.
Me, outloud: Oh, thanks! I’ll make sure to do them every day.
Me, silently: OMG, does my coach think I am a hunchback? I mean, I know I asked him about posture like four weeks ago, but I was probably just trying to stall for a few seconds in between doing sets of tricep dips or something. And he asked someone else, a trained professional, for help. Just for me. Dear God, I definitely am a hunchback.

Will somebody please tell me I am not the only person in the world who can graciously accept a well-intentioned and honest compliment and yet still feel like an anxious, sloppy, chubby, hunchback?

comments

  1. I’m right there with you:

    Her: “Your hair is so cute! I can’t wait for mine to grow out so it will look as cute as yours.”
    Me (outloud): Thanks. I’m still getting used to the new style.
    Me (in my head): Please – you’re just saying that because you don’t want to hurt my feelings. I know that everyone tells little white lies so as not to offend others. I heard it on the radio this morning so it has to be true. You hate my hair, you hate me.

    written by Leslie

    July 13th, 2006 @ 11:07 pm

  2. Michael always tell me that I can’t take a compliment. I may as well hear the opposite of what the person is actually saying. If they like my shirt, GOD, it must be SO ugly!

    written by Sarah

    July 14th, 2006 @ 6:46 am

  3. But is that worse than no one saying anything??? A few months ago, I cut my hair significantly, got it significantly highlighted (stylist went crazy) AND started wearing contacts all on the same weekend, AND Monday morning not a SINGLE person noticed…

    written by Jane

    July 14th, 2006 @ 7:36 am

  4. Well, here is a compliment with no double meaning…I love your new address bar icon. Where did you get the idea to add one of those??!?!?!!?

    I think I am on the other end of the spectrum…people compliment me, and I just say thanks and keep going. Maybe I should question their meaning a little more =)

    written by Liz

    July 14th, 2006 @ 8:10 am

  5. I do the same thing. ALthough for some reason all my coworkers will tell me I look nice on the SAME day, so I think they really might be trying to tell me that I should stop pretending like my JCrew flip flops are appropriate officewear.

    written by Jennifer

    July 14th, 2006 @ 9:28 am

  6. I love reading you! :)

    written by Kelly

    July 14th, 2006 @ 10:51 am

  7. OHMYGOD WE HAVE THE SAME SHOES. I just know it. Are they high-heeled or low? Mine weren’t on “clearance” at DSW – but they were at DSW so that’s as good as normal clearance. Mine are black, pointy, TOTALLY AWESOME heels. Yours?

    I LOOOOOOOOVE these shoes. Hard to stand in because they’re higher than my usual (also flip-flops) but so hottt.

    written by Liberal Banana

    July 14th, 2006 @ 8:51 pm

  8. Bonus that you don’t say these things out loud. Now we just have to get you to stop thinking them. :)

    written by kris

    July 16th, 2006 @ 9:29 pm

  9. I think 90% of all females are like that! I know I am at least. I am VERY happy to hear about your lack of mold now…hopefully it’s all gone like you said it would be?

    As for my pool, I wish I could swim in it too, but we don’t close escrow until 8/18!! I’m gonna die in this heat until then!

    written by haggalicious

    July 17th, 2006 @ 12:56 am

  10. Better make sure that those flip flops don’t kill your feet! That’s probably the most important thing.

    Take a compliment– men generally aren’t thinking as much as you are! :)

    written by MInTheGap

    July 17th, 2006 @ 10:22 am

  11. I am definitely the same way.
    My boss says: You look nice today.
    I hear: You look horrible every other day.

    written by -R-

    July 17th, 2006 @ 2:32 pm

  12. I’m the exact same way. I think it’s human nature.

    written by Isabel

    July 22nd, 2006 @ 4:11 pm