| A man paid me an unexpected compliment today and I’m still smiling. I already felt good today, wearing one of my favorite tops and a great necklace. I’d already heard from a few female coworkers that I looked nice but there is nothing like an unexpected compliment from a stranger. I was getting coffee at Starbucks and he touched my arm, looked into my eyes and said, “You have the most beautiful smile.”
The men I have dated over the years have either been pretty stingy with compliments or have only given overtly sexual ones with a purpose in mind. I, on the other hand, am a BIG complimenter. I think it’s important to express your feelings and I’ve been known to tell a random guy in an elevator that he smells good or that I think his tie is really handsome. I’m not sure why men don’t think that women notice these things. I read an article that a compliment to a woman is almost as good as sex for a man. I believe it (hence the still smiling many hours later).
Men give compliments in many different ways. Perhaps they don’t realize that women can see right through them. There are the charming compliments that come from a place of true adoration. There are obligatory compliments from a man who thinks he owes you one (tit for tat) and women don’t always handle these quite so well because it’s usually obvious that it is disingenuine. Then there are pseudo-compliments given only for the purpose of seduction. And finally there are honest, genuine, touching compliments that make us feel appreciated and radiant. While some women will lap up any praise thrown at them and believe it, others are immediately wary of any words directed their way. But an attentive woman knows how to see through a man and recognize the special and sincerely intended compliment.
P.S. I must be giving off vibes today because, later in the day, I was walking on campus in front of three young boys (maybe 20?). I go to a large university but we were in an area with no one else close by. Suddenly I hear one of the boys go, “Look at that ass.” The other guy goes, “Hers?” The first guy says, “Yeah, the one with the black pants, []hair and [] shirt.” I glanced to the left and right and, really, there was no one around and I had that hair and that shirt. I think it was a compliment… they didn’t say, “Look at that fat ass.” And since I was already in a good mood from earlier in the day, I smiled and kept walking. 
