SQLLawman

This weekend I was volunteering at the One America Mini-Marathon Expo to help raise awareness of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training and I reconnected with a team mate from Team Indiana’s cycle team for the Honolulu Century ride.  When he introduced me to his friend that came to the expo with him, the stated I was a “biking machine.”  Yep, my head swelled.  Now Scott is an athlete.  Less then a month before the century ride he competed in an Olympic length triathlon.  This summer in addition to running the mini, he is completing in an Olympic length, half, and full ironman triathlons.  He even acknowledging that I ride is made me feel so good.  So I’d like to challenge all to read this to be liberal with your compliments.  There is so much in the world that tries to beat us down, that an honestly complementing someone based on your perception of their abilities is refreshing.  Throughout the rest of the weekend, I began to watch how others greeted each other.  I was surprised how much sarcasm and insults were in the greetings.  Now I recognize that this is how we greet each other and no one takes these greeting as insulting.  But I wonder if complementing rather than insulting could change attitudes and turn back the wave of negativism that is so prevalent in our society.  So I am going to look for opportunities to complement and build up, and squelch the urge to break down, even in jest.  Since I am rather sarcastic to begin with, I find this a challenging decision.  Hopefully this will be a step in making this a better world.