"Wow, your daughter has a pair of big round eyes! They are elegant!"That was the first compliment I could remember about my eyes I heard when I was probably around four. I remember that was one afternoon that my parents brought me and my sister to visit one of my dad's friend's place. When I was fascinated by the children's play area in the house, I heard that remark made by my dad's friend's wife to my mom. And you know how did I respond? I immediately smiled and tried to open my eyes more to make them bigger. Yes, hilarious I know. That was such a childish behavior. From the wife's facial expression I think she was suppressing herself from bursting into laughter after seeing my childish foolish behavior.
That was just one small foolish act I did when I was a child. I had done numerous but I am not going to reveal them all here. Let me diverge the topic slightly now. Few weeks ago I was attending a course. One of the guest speakers invited was someone who was extremely experienced and skilled in a special technique. That was introduced by the course organizer throughout the whole course from the first day. Everyone was convinced. That we had no doubt about it. Then when it was finally this particular guest speaker's turn to give her presentation. She kept emphasizing how hardworking she was in her work, how good she was in trouble shooting the difficult steps of this tricky technique and how many people had came to her for advice and consultation yada yada. I looked around my fellow classmates and even the course organizer; they all had some weird expression on their face. Well I was not totally surprised with observation as I myself could not enjoy the whole presentation, especially since she spent way too much time in emphasizing how great she was until she ran over time and still did not deliver her supposed to be helpful tips in applying that special technique she was apparently good at to the audience!
Have you met such type of people in your surroundings? I'm sure there are quite a number around. These people just love to brag how good they are and how important they are. I have also met someone from work who is constantly keeping others informed how smart and capable he was. Some really believed his words. As for those who knew him a little longer, soon enough they just shrug their shoulders and laugh it off. Don't you find this some what childish as well? This also makes me wonder why people love to brag about themselves. I do understand we all human-beings love those compliments. Yes, it is so flattering to hear compliments about us. But compliments are just some remarks by others, which may or may not be sincere after all. Ok, let's not discuss about should we not get compliments. Sure, if you get a compliment from someone, it is human nature to feel elated. Yet do we have to fish for compliments? Or worse still, do we have to go around to tell people how great we are?
There is a phrase in Chinese language, "If there's rice, you'd smell it.", meaning if you're truly good, people will naturally know. I'm sure if you're capable, smart or whatever positive trait you are harboring, others will know eventually. There is absolutely no point of going around telling people, especially what you claimed is not the real case? Even if you are truly good yet if you do not have a humble attitude, it certainly is less admirable. I think it's just good to do our own role and do our own things. Someone who's truly good is someone who really does the work and be humble about it. An empty can sounds loudest.
Hey, I really have a pair of big eyes, I tell you. *opening my eyes wide as though they were going to pop out* Quick. I'm waiting for some compliment.
♥ every page of my imagination
