What kind of compliments do you actually remember months or years later?
August 6, 2025
What kind of compliments do you actually remember months or years later?
42 comments
Compliments surrounding the outer beauty because it’s quite rare. Even if people think you look good, they won’t reach out. Other than that, one compliment stayed with me which was not really a compliment. A friend of mine told someone else he regrets losing me as a friend.
Compliments on my positive impact on others, compliments pertaining to my physical accomplishments and personal style
One’s about the type of mother, grandmother, wife, daughter and friend I am.
Someone complimented my natural hair. And it really had a positive impact on me because i was having a hard time liking my natural hair. It was so curly and frizzy, i hated it.
Ive had no heat on my hair for months now…thank you rando
Compliments that were actually genuine. Mostly from random people, because they don’t know who the hell I am and they have nothing to gain from complimenting me. So if a stranger compliments me they went out of their way to say something to another stranger (me) and it must be genuine and true.
Like I remember years ago (must have been 10 years ago now) I was walking to work one morning and an elderly man just told me in passing “you look so beautiful!”. There was something about it where it felt really genuine, he has this nice light in his eyes and looked like a nice person, he was just a really nice elderly man. It wasn’t a predatory or gross comment, it was nice. I remember that.
I was also in Sephora years ago and a random ass lady who was also a customer came up to me and said “you are just so beautiful!”. The sound in her voice was almost like a shock, like my beauty was shocking to her? Idk how to describe it. But it was again, very genuine and the tone was really nice.
Another time there was a random stranger who said my voice and presence sounded really soothing and calming. That was so nice to hear since I feel like my voice is incredibly annoying.
Someone at an event yelled “hey SnappyLapwing, we treasure you!” a few months ago. I was working super hard at the time, and I still get warm thinking about it.
every time my boyfriend calls me beautiful
When theyre about my abilities and come from someone I admire/respect.
when theyre on my physical appearance by randos/acquaintances, they frankly go in one ear and out the other because they never feel genuine
I melt a little when someone compliments my baking or cooking, because I only do it for people I really love 😊
Was at a Trance Party, guy came over to me, said „You dance like a Corifaea“ and walked back to his group
Piggybacking off of the celebrity post, a girl I worked with once said I reminded her of Ana De Armas. I like a lot of her movies. And obviously Ana is *beautiful*. Best compliment I’ve ever gotten.
Outfits, “omg your fit ate” or I love your style so much are my favorite compliments.
Compliments about smelling nice too
I was at a couple of Pride Events this year and while compliments on my physical appearance typically don’t mean that much to me, getting repeatedly told by random gay men that I have a pretty face really hit me. Up until that point I just assumed people were nice/had an ulterior motive.
Also, compliments on my lifting form/swimming technique and generally nice remarks on things I’m good at 🙂
I like when someone compliments my eyes i always fall for it
compliments from kids, compliments about my thoughtfulness
A little girl once told me I looked happy. I’ll never forget it!
You look very preraffaellite with this hairstyle
Oh wow the gym is working, look at those shoulders
Compliments on how I make people feel. When someone tells them I make them feel loved, less alone, cared for, thought about or just having the best time, that resonates with me.
I was thinking about this recently. Well, not exactly this, but a semi related topic.
“I love how you’re always just you.” Said genuinely, by an important mentor figure at the time. It impacted my larger sense of self. I felt like I could fully be myself *and* be accepted, I didn’t have to choose one. I haven’t always felt that way before or since, but in that moment I felt seen, in a good way. Authenticity and consistency are very important to me, and I’m at my best when I have space to live in those values, and having that recognized offered a rare feeling of connection, I think.
Compliments about my eyes or the moles under my eye are the closest to my heart
The one compliment that imprinted itself on me came from a stranger during a random conversation we had about a book I was reading , some 4 years ago. He said I had a “rarely wired intellect”, still makes me happy to think back to that.
When I was in high school as a very weird and unpopular person a very handsome and popular football player told me I had gorgeous eyes.
This would have been like 1998. So I’ve held on to that one.
About a month ago, a man young enough to be my son told me he liked my hair color because “it’s very subtle”. I’m still wondering what that means.
i thought it may be something about beauty, but recently found out that i actually remember every single comment about my intelligence
The ones that are most memorable aren’t necessarily the ones that were the best or meant the most to me. Sometimes I remember a compliment because it was weird.
The backhanded ones always seem to stick in me the longest. All the rest, I can undermine or ignore in my head.
I was called brave and it stuck with me.
When they’re actually specific or unique to me
“Is your hair naturally curly?”
“Uh, actually, yeah, it is!”
“You bitch.”
Customer said that to me about 15 years ago while I was cashiering, it made me laugh. Most unique way I’ve ever been complimented for my hair.
about compliments on my personality, not my appearance
My niece told her mom about how she hopes she grows up kind like “aunt tea_bird.” ;.;
I used to receive random compliments on my natural long black hair with natural red highlights that glistened in the sun. I fondly remember when random people on the street pointed it out.
As grey started to appear, I died it to try to match. For years the compliments stopped. My pretty hair days over.
When I didn’t get around to dying it & the grey roots were really long, I got a compliment or two which encouraged me to just go for it. Honestly, most stages of the grow out did look pretty cool and I lucked out to have silver grey on top with my original natural black still at the base of my head. Who knew?
Wish I had stopped dying it much earlier. Thanks complimenters! I’ll never forget you.
My daughter’s friend, who had truly shitty parents and spent a LOT of time in our home growing up, invited me to her university graduation and told me that university wasn’t something she would have ever considered if I hadn’t encouraged her and tutored her and believed in her. She told me I was the kind of woman she aspires to be. I almost died of feelings.
Someone once told me that I have a calming presence and I think about it all the time. I love hearing how I make people feel so much more than what people think about me!
“Someone once told me: You know, a lot of times we meet people and at first we get excited about them, we’re really into them, and then, the more we get to know them, the feeling fades? Well, with you, that feeling never faded.
For years I had a belief that the closer people get to me, the more they will understand how not worth knowing I really am. So I still treasure a compliment that was exactly the opposite of this belief.
A cashier told me about a year ago “I bet your kids feel so loved and warm” and it made me so happy it sticks in my brain.
When they come from people I care about I always remember. Surprisingly also when they come from kids. Kids are so blunt and honest that a genuine complement from them lights up the rest of my day.
Unusual ones, like a guy in high school smelling my neck and complimenting me on my natural smell
The ones with no agenda.
Being told I’m funny. A friend of mine said I said do stand up, I just love to make people laugh
Anything unique or genuine. “You’re good looking/ beautiful/ hot/ sexy” loses all meaning after a while. The way I look is the least interesting thing about me.
Genuine compliments from other women.
Once a waitress told me my jeans made my butt look awesome. This is probably my favorite and i think about it more than i should lol.
42 comments
Compliments surrounding the outer beauty because it’s quite rare. Even if people think you look good, they won’t reach out. Other than that, one compliment stayed with me which was not really a compliment. A friend of mine told someone else he regrets losing me as a friend.
Compliments on my positive impact on others, compliments pertaining to my physical accomplishments and personal style
One’s about the type of mother, grandmother, wife, daughter and friend I am.
Someone complimented my natural hair. And it really had a positive impact on me because i was having a hard time liking my natural hair. It was so curly and frizzy, i hated it.
Ive had no heat on my hair for months now…thank you rando
Compliments that were actually genuine. Mostly from random people, because they don’t know who the hell I am and they have nothing to gain from complimenting me. So if a stranger compliments me they went out of their way to say something to another stranger (me) and it must be genuine and true.
Like I remember years ago (must have been 10 years ago now) I was walking to work one morning and an elderly man just told me in passing “you look so beautiful!”. There was something about it where it felt really genuine, he has this nice light in his eyes and looked like a nice person, he was just a really nice elderly man. It wasn’t a predatory or gross comment, it was nice. I remember that.
I was also in Sephora years ago and a random ass lady who was also a customer came up to me and said “you are just so beautiful!”. The sound in her voice was almost like a shock, like my beauty was shocking to her? Idk how to describe it. But it was again, very genuine and the tone was really nice.
Another time there was a random stranger who said my voice and presence sounded really soothing and calming. That was so nice to hear since I feel like my voice is incredibly annoying.
Someone at an event yelled “hey SnappyLapwing, we treasure you!” a few months ago. I was working super hard at the time, and I still get warm thinking about it.
every time my boyfriend calls me beautiful
When theyre about my abilities and come from someone I admire/respect.
when theyre on my physical appearance by randos/acquaintances, they frankly go in one ear and out the other because they never feel genuine
I melt a little when someone compliments my baking or cooking, because I only do it for people I really love 😊
Was at a Trance Party, guy came over to me, said „You dance like a Corifaea“ and walked back to his group
Piggybacking off of the celebrity post, a girl I worked with once said I reminded her of Ana De Armas. I like a lot of her movies. And obviously Ana is *beautiful*. Best compliment I’ve ever gotten.
Outfits, “omg your fit ate” or I love your style so much are my favorite compliments.
Compliments about smelling nice too
I was at a couple of Pride Events this year and while compliments on my physical appearance typically don’t mean that much to me, getting repeatedly told by random gay men that I have a pretty face really hit me. Up until that point I just assumed people were nice/had an ulterior motive.
Also, compliments on my lifting form/swimming technique and generally nice remarks on things I’m good at 🙂
I like when someone compliments my eyes i always fall for it
compliments from kids, compliments about my thoughtfulness
A little girl once told me I looked happy. I’ll never forget it!
You look very preraffaellite with this hairstyle
Oh wow the gym is working, look at those shoulders
Compliments on how I make people feel. When someone tells them I make them feel loved, less alone, cared for, thought about or just having the best time, that resonates with me.
I was thinking about this recently. Well, not exactly this, but a semi related topic.
“I love how you’re always just you.” Said genuinely, by an important mentor figure at the time. It impacted my larger sense of self. I felt like I could fully be myself *and* be accepted, I didn’t have to choose one. I haven’t always felt that way before or since, but in that moment I felt seen, in a good way. Authenticity and consistency are very important to me, and I’m at my best when I have space to live in those values, and having that recognized offered a rare feeling of connection, I think.
Compliments about my eyes or the moles under my eye are the closest to my heart
The one compliment that imprinted itself on me came from a stranger during a random conversation we had about a book I was reading , some 4 years ago. He said I had a “rarely wired intellect”, still makes me happy to think back to that.
When I was in high school as a very weird and unpopular person a very handsome and popular football player told me I had gorgeous eyes.
This would have been like 1998. So I’ve held on to that one.
About a month ago, a man young enough to be my son told me he liked my hair color because “it’s very subtle”. I’m still wondering what that means.
i thought it may be something about beauty, but recently found out that i actually remember every single comment about my intelligence
The ones that are most memorable aren’t necessarily the ones that were the best or meant the most to me. Sometimes I remember a compliment because it was weird.
The backhanded ones always seem to stick in me the longest. All the rest, I can undermine or ignore in my head.
I was called brave and it stuck with me.
When they’re actually specific or unique to me
“Is your hair naturally curly?”
“Uh, actually, yeah, it is!”
“You bitch.”
Customer said that to me about 15 years ago while I was cashiering, it made me laugh. Most unique way I’ve ever been complimented for my hair.
about compliments on my personality, not my appearance
My niece told her mom about how she hopes she grows up kind like “aunt tea_bird.” ;.;
I used to receive random compliments on my natural long black hair with natural red highlights that glistened in the sun. I fondly remember when random people on the street pointed it out.
As grey started to appear, I died it to try to match. For years the compliments stopped. My pretty hair days over.
When I didn’t get around to dying it & the grey roots were really long, I got a compliment or two which encouraged me to just go for it. Honestly, most stages of the grow out did look pretty cool and I lucked out to have silver grey on top with my original natural black still at the base of my head. Who knew?
Wish I had stopped dying it much earlier. Thanks complimenters! I’ll never forget you.
My daughter’s friend, who had truly shitty parents and spent a LOT of time in our home growing up, invited me to her university graduation and told me that university wasn’t something she would have ever considered if I hadn’t encouraged her and tutored her and believed in her. She told me I was the kind of woman she aspires to be. I almost died of feelings.
Someone once told me that I have a calming presence and I think about it all the time. I love hearing how I make people feel so much more than what people think about me!
“Someone once told me: You know, a lot of times we meet people and at first we get excited about them, we’re really into them, and then, the more we get to know them, the feeling fades? Well, with you, that feeling never faded.
For years I had a belief that the closer people get to me, the more they will understand how not worth knowing I really am. So I still treasure a compliment that was exactly the opposite of this belief.
A cashier told me about a year ago “I bet your kids feel so loved and warm” and it made me so happy it sticks in my brain.
When they come from people I care about I always remember. Surprisingly also when they come from kids. Kids are so blunt and honest that a genuine complement from them lights up the rest of my day.
Unusual ones, like a guy in high school smelling my neck and complimenting me on my natural smell
The ones with no agenda.
Being told I’m funny. A friend of mine said I said do stand up, I just love to make people laugh
Anything unique or genuine. “You’re good looking/ beautiful/ hot/ sexy” loses all meaning after a while. The way I look is the least interesting thing about me.
Genuine compliments from other women.
Once a waitress told me my jeans made my butt look awesome. This is probably my favorite and i think about it more than i should lol.