[Photo credit: Google image]

The simple compliments mean the most. Make someone’s day –Jawabin Neman

Let me share a story. It may just inspire you; perhaps many of us are unconscious to the truth behind this saying that “A compliment is verbal sunshine”.

In confidence! Don’t smile too much as you read through… Do we have a deal?

If we do, then here you go.

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The other day my 4yr-old daughter made a remark. For the purpose of this write-up, she’ll go by the name D.D.

Following her comment I was reminded right-away that – in truth – my wife had [on this particular day] been to the salon earlier in the day.

“Mummy I like your hair” –we supposed she meant her new hairdo.

“Thank you my baby” was the response from her Mom… In an instant; I saw a glow on my wife’s face. :)

This is true, “the hairdo is really nice” I said quietly to myself… Too little too late it seemed; how could I not have acknowledged her look before now? [Says my thought] I knew my foot was already trapped in the door.

I only wondered how my daughter could manage to pay attention to such thing; well I don’t have to wonder anymore, I have witnessed more of such complimentary remarks from D.D in recent times. It’s becoming part of my experience nowadays. It has come to stay.

I will confess to you –Yours truly is now competing with D.D [secretly though]. My antennas are working; my signal is active –all this is so because there is the need to ensure that “this writer” says at the appropriate time what is expected of him before his 4yr-old would have to be the one to awaking her Dad’s consciousness toward the things he should have said. :)

Let me state here that the writer has no problem with D.D’s beautiful, innocent and honest compliments, I just do not wish that she goes first on some days. A married man reading this piece would certainly understand my quip.

Back to the night, one thing was inevitable [following the complimentary comment from D.D] which was the need to put up a Nollywood act – already I could see a flashing red light. The emotional-card obviously was that I didn’t care enough to appreciate my wife’s new look before that hour.

In all sincerity, I do care!

Well, I understand better that one should not be too familiar with such thing as insignificant it may appear. It didn’t occur to me that one’s spouse hairdo [no matter what] still demands a comment from the male figure in her life. Not ones in a while but all the time. Be that as it may, on the other hand though –I’d say [please] do not blame me, after-all, she always looks good in new hairstyles. ‘I was used to it’

By the way, I give good compliments. I know the little things [verbal, emotion, action etc.] that an average woman would like to hear or receive as the case may be.

But certain things just skip your mind sometimes. This is exactly what happened that particular day. It skipped my mind!

So, it was time for me to put up a Nollywood act. One-two-three go –Now, this is what happened, immediately my wife responded to D.D. At this point I had noticed that her face was starting to glow. Not wasting time, I turned to D.D “Yes, her hairdo is beautiful” –onward to her Mom, “This is true, I’ve observed this myself since you returned from the salon and I knew I would have to say this to you at some point”

Your dearly beloved received a strange look in return and I knew right away that Nollywood is not my calling. The message I read from her face that night was clear enough. Yours truly would have to be more sensitive next time. End of part 1

Part two…

There came this particular day we had similar scenario. “Oh, the timing was perfect on this occasion” –says my thoughts. I did not waste time to compliment my wife’s hairdo “You look amazing in your new hairstyle” She smiled and thanked me accordingly.

Cool stuff… With my shoulders now raised for obvious reason, I decided to pull the little girl’s legs.

“D.D what do you think of your Mom’s hair? Isn’t it beautiful?”

“Oh she likes it” her Mom stepped in, “that was the first statement I received from her as I returned”

Kai!

My eyes popped out, then I smiled in the same way someone who hasn’t used a toothbrush in four days would do.

“Saying such thing is good D.D” –Dad encourages

Thereafter, your dearly friend intentionally allowed that moment to die a natural death. I brought up an unrelated matter and it was just enough to change the topic on the day.

Something happened few days ago, my wife and I; alongside D.D were on our way home. By the way D.D’s mom had just left the stylist shop, so I knew for sure that the little girl hasn’t mention a word regarding her Mom’s hair.

There is a twist from me this time around. As a way to pass a compliment, I posed the question to my daughter instead.

“What do you think of your Mom’s hair D.D? “ It sounded off like rhetoric; I could accurately predict what her response would be. The usual rhymes [expected from a four year-old], especially the ones I am used to. “Mummy I like your hair” “Your hair is beautiful”

Then she looked at me and said

“Daddy I like your hair”

Light radiated all over my body, and I haven’t recovered from the joy that accompanied her remark.

The little girl noticed that I had visited the barber’s shop earlier in the day, and it just makes me feel good because truly my barber had spent more time than usual to give me the cut of my life.

It was good enough that she observed and much better that she gave such a complimentary remark.

Go out of your way today to pay a compliment to a friend, colleague, partner etc. A simple remark may just be the missing piece that’d make someone’s day.

Boluwatife Adekunle

@boluzzz