Daily writing prompt

What was the best compliment you’ve received?

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The best compliment that I’ve ever received is, “You’re one of the kindest people I’ve ever met.”

I actually get this compliment quite a lot, and I love it, because everyone could use a good dose of kindness in their lives from time to time. Life is difficult. Interpersonal relationships are difficult. Learning to accept and love and care for ourselves is difficult. One kind person in our lives can make a huge impact.

I absolutely love my friends, my chosen family, and the community that I’ve built. Being a kind person to them is honestly my privilege. Even being kind to people that I’ve just met and am speaking to for the first time makes an impact.

Kindness hasn’t always come naturally to me. I had to cultivate it within myself. I was not raised to be kind, but I became that way regardless. I am very proud of who I’ve become over time. I love looking back and seeing the ways that I’ve grown, and one of those ways is how I approach and treat other people.

It’s also not the disadvantage that many people think that it is to be kind. Kind people will still be honest. Kind people will still have a shadow side. Kind people will still stand up to bullies. Kind people will still throw down for a good cause. Kind people will fight back against injustice because they want a kinder world.

Being kind in an unkind world is kind of a superpower if I’m being honest. It takes a lot of self-control, self-awareness, and self-care. It also takes the strength of a village of kind people to keep everyone in it afloat when the world is in chaos.

I’ve received my fair share of compliments for achievements that I’ve earned or gifts that I’ve just been born with, but the fact that I actively choose kindness, that I actually grew kindness within my own hollow chest, is exactly why I value this compliment most of all.