30 Heartfelt Compliments That Made A Big Difference In Someone’s Life

Compliments have the power to brighten our days and sometimes even change our lives. Recently, a Reddit user posed a heartfelt question: “What’s a compliment you’ll never forget?”

#1

Image source: Diligent-Reference80, Polina Sirotina/Pexels (not the actual photo)

Years ago I was dragged to this church function by my parents. A man came up to me and told me that he saw me from afar and said I was the spitting image of Coretta Scott King. He went on about how he actually knew her way back when and how beautiful she was, then went on reminiscing. I never believed him but that compliment definitely stuck with me.

#2

Image source: nagerjaeger, cottonbro studio/Pexels (not the actual photo)

Christmas mid 90’s. My oldest was 3. Money was tight and I felt it constantly. I was tying the cheapest tree we could find to the top of our rusty Toyota. My son was “helping” me. An older man came over and said “You are a wealthy man.” I tear up even now as I type this.

#3

Image source: Glum_Benefit3704, Judita Mikalkevičė/Pexels (not the actual photo)

It was from my sister. I’m a wheelchair user with limited mobility. My sister said to me “You are not useless for not being able to move, you are beautiful and smarter than me, so you’re not useless, you just have different abilities”.

#4

Image source: CreepyPersonality111, Inga Seliverstova/Pexels (not the actual photo)

I love music so I really give it all on the dancefloor when I’m out.

After one of the parties, a guy came up to me, says he’s completely deaf but watching me dance it was almost as if he heard music again.

#5

Image source: Impulsive_Artiste, YI REN/Pexels (not the actual photo)

While dressed in studded-leather Warrior-Princess mode, complete with boots, gauntlets and sword, at an outdoor summer dance festival, was told I was cool by a boy of about 13. I was nearly 50.

#6

Image source: Lexiwolf333, Paul Theodor Oja/Pexels (not the actual photo)

My ailing grandma told me I was her “favorite person” as her last words to me. I loved her so dearly and it meant a lot.

#7

Image source: Anonymous_o6, Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels (not the actual photo)

“Even if we dont end up together, your kids are lucky to have you as a mother to them”.

#8

Image source: RonnieHasThePliers, Mike Jones/Pexels (not the actual photo)

In college I didn’t have many friends my first year. I wasn’t as outgoing as I am now. I was riding the elevator in my dorm when a girl walked in. She smiled and said I have beautiful eyes. I don’t even know if I replied honestly. I’d never had any attribute highlighted by anybody I wasn’t related to. That interaction gave me a big boost in confidence.

It also taught me to compliment people, especially dudes. We never get compliments. If you’re in my zone and are looking fresh, you know I’m gonna tell ya!

#9

Image source: BeckyWithTheDontCare, Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels (not the actual photo)

A car full of girls rolled past me slowly one time when I was out shopping and yelled out “GIRL, YOU’RE SO CUTE, WHERE DID YOU GET YOUR DRESS!?”

And that was just so aggressively nice.

#10

Image source: savessh, Mathias Reding/Pexels (not the actual photo)

A former Royal Marine told me that the world will be alright as long as there’s men like me in it.

…was kind of wowed ’bout that.

#11

Image source: walkintree941, Serkan Göktay/Pexels (not the actual photo)

“you have no idea how safe and destressed I feel after hanging out with you”
Was unexpected as it came from an overly stressed, kinda cynical person who is actually going through a lot.

#12

Yesterday I went swimming and as I got into the hot tub I noticed a mom and her little girl next to me , a couple minutes later as they were leaving the hot tub the mom says to me “ she said , mommy look at that beautiful girl!” my heart ? I’ll never forget that . Sometimes Kids are so sweet.

Image source: ArgumentStill9945

#13

Image source: JJBektline, KATRIN BOLOVTSOVA/Pexels (not the actual photo)

You’re the only person I know that I can tell this to. I feel safe with you.

#14

Image source: Naughty_Angel3335558, Sergey Makashin/Pexels (not the actual photo)

My brother telling me I looked stunning.

#15

My uncle was once lowkey drunk and I think I was stressed about something probably exams/ toxic school friends.
He then just bashed into my room and told me to be calm. He even then proceeded to tell me that I am a good kid and that my cousin (younger to me) appreciates me as an older sister. He told me I was a good influence on him and was very kind and that he(cousin) always likes to spend time with me.
It felt so good cause this uncle never really talks like that and even though it was a pretty small I felt very proud.

Image source: _crackhead_Nabi

#16

Image source: tstr_strdl, Sean Patrick/Pexels (not the actual photo)

Yesterday had a dude at the bar tell me i was one of the nicest dudes he has met, all for moving his drink away from the pool chalk station so nothing would get in it.

#17

Image source: Neat-Ad-8987, Nina Uhlikova/Pexels (not the actual photo)

“You know, you’d probably be a pretty good person to travel with.“.

#18

Image source: DebrisSignature, RDNE Stock project/Pexels (not the actual photo)

I got a fortune once that read “everyone agrees you are the best.” Can’t top that.

#19

Image source: Melia9090, cottonbro studio/Pexels (not the actual photo)

It was the only time in my entire life I’ve received this compliment from a stranger. I was helping out a customer and she was quiet but friendly. Before she left she said “you have a sunny disposition” and I almost cried. That compliment has stuck with me and it’s been nearly a decade later.

#20

Image source: jenna_leee, WARLEY VENANCIO/Pexels (not the actual photo)

When I had my super red hair, a little girl told me that I looked like Ariel. I told her oh yes the mermaid, and she said yes a princess. Made me honestly tear up, I really needed that in that moment too.

#21

Image source: T3rminallyCapricious, Jonathan Borba/Pexels (not the actual photo)

“Your hugs heal something broken in all of us.” I still tear up thinking about it.

#22

Image source: Front_Glass_904, Italo Melo/Pexels (not the actual photo)

I was talking to this random guy I met at my friend’s houseparty for the whole night and before leaving he said “you’re very vibrant and full of life, dont let that child in you die, ever”.

I still smile like a crazy person whenever I remember this?.

#23

Image source: WonderOk9463, Zen Chung/Pexels (not the actual photo)

Casually walking with my dog, a clearly unstable and troubled person was held down by a few police, the person looked up, we locked eyes and she yelled on her top of lungs – HEY dude I love your face!!!!!!!!

The entire street looked, and my dog looked back and gave me a huge grin.

#24

When I was in high school I did forensics and I wrote my own poetry for it. I was really struggling with mental health at the time so I really channeled it into my work and performance and at the regionals competition I made a woman cry. She and her husband approached me in the hall after we all left the classroom and she started just saying that my poetry was beautiful and how I should have it published to which I was very flattered and thanked her graciously but then I could see her face was starting to turn red and there were tears forming in her eyes. She started turning her compliments into words of encouragement and saying how strong I was and such and by the time she was done she was crying. I am really empathetic so seeing this grown woman crying made me cry as well and so I asked if she wanted a hug and she said yes and pulled me into the tightest hug I have ever been in. Not in a painful way but it was just so secure like she did not want to let me go. I could feel just how much my words meant to her by that hug. I still tear up remembering how it felt because I have never felt someone put so much emotion into a hug before. Her husband did not cry but I could tell he felt the same way by his expression. What really gets me is how I will never know her name and will never see her again, yet I will still never forget what she did. I wrote my college essay on her and any hard times I faced after that I would always think about her. I am thankful we shared that moment.

Image source: Training_Baseball123

#25

Image source: Reasonable_Walk_2508, Guilherme Almeida/Pexels (not the actual photo)

I got “You look like a Botticelli painting” twice.

#26

Image source: Vivid-Reception-2813, Vinicius Wiesehofer/Pexels (not the actual photo)

Having just left a job that I had given all my effort to which wasn’t appreciated and then had been dropped from the contract renewal list…when my new managers approached me after a stressful shift and said:

“we are so happy you’re with us, we’ve never had someone who just gets on with the work no fuss and is always in a good mood”

it really hit me deep and especially at that point when I thought I was acting grumpy nearly 24/7, it elevated my mood and performance going forward.

I was only at that job a few months but the entire team attended my leaving event on short notice and still invite me to socials.

#27

In 5th grade a gym teacher assistant picked me and a few other kids to learn a dance for the assembly. i asked why and she said I was graceful when I dance. that lead to a lifetime of a least a willingness to dance, which in turn led to a whole lot of really fun stuff. so i’m grateful for her.

Image source: Meet_the_Meat

#28

Image source: HeyItsKeys, Helena Lopes/Pexels (not the actual photo)

“you’re legit a good human being” from a girl I went to school with about 13 years after we graduated.

#29

Image source: Mischief_Managed_Gal, Juan Pablo Serrano/Pexels (not the actual photo)

Once I was in the subway in Paris and the guy sitting in front of me smiled at me and said : « you’re really cute and charming ». Then got up and left. It’s been more than twenty years and I still remember that guy and how nice it made me feel.

#30

Image source: HopefulStand2001

Had a client once bring me a framed placard, she had handmade, saying “To the world, you may be just one person, but to one person, you could mean the world”. Still hangs in my office to this day.