What is the best compliment you've ever received?

Some years ago, I read a smart tip that recommended keeping a diary of compliments - meaning that if someone gave me a compliment, I would write it down. I have no idea where I left that diary eventually, but it would be interesting to read it today. One thing is sure though - the compliments from back in the day are probably not something that I would hold in very high regard today.  

It's often said about Estonians that they don't know how to accept compliments. It applies to both women and men. This topic came up recently at a rather fun dinner party when everyone around the table had to remember three of the funniest compliments they have ever received. So I thought I should share my three compliments with you, because much fun was had at the table.  

The first one is actually just a question that I took as a compliment. Namely, I like my Finnish sauna hot and steamy, so I throw a lot of water on the rocks and I kept doing it this one time in a spa. There was just one man in the sauna with me who suddenly asked whether I was Finnish. I said I was local. He added, with an undertone of approval, that saunas this hot are usually the work of Finnish women. By the way, in some Finnish saunas (that we have a lot of in Estonian spas), I have managed to deter quite a few unwanted gentlemen with the heat.  

Another compliment that made my heart sing is actually from the culinary section. I baked a couple of big pies for my husband's colleagues on the occasion of his birthday and ordered a taxi to take them there. I got in the car with the pies and they smelled rather delicious. I had driven with that taxi driver before and all of a sudden he turned to me and asked whether I had baked those myself. I said of course. The taxi driver turned around and said it was incredible that I'd made them myself. I think it's another one of those amusing moments where you can be offended, because the taxi driver assumed - as it came out from the conversation that followed - that I could not cook. I decided to take it as a compliment, because it was a truly fun assumption.  

The third compliment is from a few years back when I had a work meeting with a gentleman who offered a lunch that had several courses. So I was eating and eating and eating and eventually, the gentleman said: "You eat so much!" I was at a loss, but he came to the rescue: "It's admirable. Most women I go dine with, eat like little birdies and are always on a diet. They take one piece of lettuce and leave it on the plate." That was a compliment with a twist, because I really do have a big appetite...  What are the most fun compliments you have received?

Outfit details:

Shoes: MIU MIU

Dress: Novashe

Crossbody: vintage Chanel

Wristwatch: Technomarine

Earrings: Pi-Ret Jewellery

Aastaid tagasi lugesin üht nutikat soovitust pidada päevikut komplimentidest. Keegi keegi tegi mulle komplimendi, siis panin selle kirja. Mul pole aimugi, kuhu selle päeviku lõpuks jätsin, kuid seda oleks päris põnev täna lugeda. Üks on selge - kunagised komplimendid ei ole ilmselt need, millest täna lugu pean.

Eesti inimeste kohta öeldakse sageli, et nad ütlevad enda kohta: "Oh, mis nüüd mina!" ega oska komplimente vastu võtta. See käivad nii naiste kui meeste kohta. Hiljuti tõusis komplimentide teema päevakorda, kui ühe lustaka õhtusöögi käigus pidi kogu laudkond meenutama kolme kõige lõbusamat komplimenti, mille oleme saanud. Seega mõtlesin oma kolme komplimenti ka sinuga jagada, sest jagatud kompliment on jagatud kompliment. Pealegi sai meie seltskonnas palju nalja. 

Olgu öeldud, et esikohal on lihtsalt üks lõbus küsimus, mida mina võtsin kohemaid komplimendina. Nimelt armastan ma Soome saunas kõvasti leili visata ja ühel korral SPA-s valasin leili aina juurde. Minuga koos oli saunas vaid üks mees, kes küsis äkitselt: "Oletko suomalainen?" ehk "Kas oled soomlane?" Vastasin, et olen kohalik. Ta lisas tunnustavalt, et nii kuuma sauna viskavad tavaliselt vaid Soome naised. Muide, Soome saunades, mida Eesti SPA-des palju leidub, on mul õnnestunud üsna mitu pealetükkiva jutuga härrat kenasti välja leilitada. 


Teine kompliment, mis mind rõõmustas, on aga hoopis toidutegemise valdkonnast. Kord küpsetasin abikaasa sünnipäeva puhul tema kolleegidele mitu suurt pirukat ja tellisin siis takso, et need kohale viia. Istusin soojade pakitud pirukatega autosse, kus nad lõhnasid üsna isuäratavalt. Olin selle taksojuhiga ka varem sõitnud, äkitselt pöördus ta minu poole ning küsis: "Kas ise küpsetasite need?" Vastasin, et ikka, kuidas siis muidu. Taksojuht vaatas seejärel korraks seljataha ja teatas: "Uskumatu! Ise tegite!" Mu meelest järjekordne meeleolukas seik, kus on võimalik kas solvuda, sest tegelikult taksojuht eeldas hilisema vestluse käigus, et ilmselt ei oska isegi mitte muna praadida. Mina otsustasin seda komplimendi pähe võtta, sest see oli tõeliselt lõbus oletus.  

Kolmas kompliment jääb paari aasta taha, kui käisin ühe härraga tööalasel kohtumisel, kus ta pakkus mitmekäigulise lõuna. Mina siis muudkui sõin ja sõin ning lõpuks lausus see härra: "Ta sööte nii palju!" Ma olin üsna nõutu, kuid ta päästis mind koheselt mu kimbatusest: "See on imetlusväärne. Enamik naisi, kellega ma einestamas käin, söövad nagu värvukesed ja on pidevalt dieedil. Võetakse üks salatileht ja see jääb ka lõpuks järgi." See oli minu arvates selline tvistiga kompliment, sest ma olen tõesti suure isuga ...  

Mis on kõige lõbusamad komplimendid, mida sina oled saanud? Muide, see ruuduline kleit on sel suvel palju komplimente kogunud, kuid need sinised ja valged ruudud on alati lummavad, kas pole!?

PHOTOS: Kristin Arniste