Day 11 - Something people seem to compliment you the most on.

From Thirty Days of Truth

I could say people compliment me on my food, but that would be sort of shallow. Yeah, I think I'm a good cook. Tom and my in-laws always compliment me on the meals I serve them. I make a mean broccoli slaw. My grandson, Jacob, says no one makes it a good as I do. But there are others who actually look at what I've made, ask what it is, then quietly disappear. Like the time I took a grilled portobella mushroom and caramelized onion sandwich to work for lunch. "What is THAT??!!" was the question of the day.

Tom says people compliment me most on my strength. I'm not sure that is the case. Why would people compliment me on my 'strength' if I don't feel like I'm a strong person?

People used to compliment me on my eyes, but when you get old, people stop complimenting you on how you look. I mean, after all, what are they gonna say? Hey, I love how your boobs only sag down to your waistline instead down past your belly button! Um, not so much of a compliment.

I think mostly I've been complimented on how I've been able to teach people how to perform certain tasks or learn and understand new concepts or procedures. I've been told many times I'm a natural born teacher, but I never wanted to be one, at least not at the elementary or secondary levels. I did consider at one time going back to school to get my Masters degree to teach at the college level, but for one reason or another never did. Thankfully, my position at the university was the perfect environment to cultivate my aptitude. Part of my job as Associate Director of Financial Aid was to analyze new regulatory requirements, procedures or software, identify the impact on our institutional and office policies,procedures and processes, develop a plan to integrate and execute the changes, then convey and assist with the implementation of the modified or new policies and procedures to a staff with a wide range of knowledge, abilities, skills and education. I was the go-to person if any of the staff had a "how to" question. It was a challenge, but I loved it and I was really good at it.

Oh, and I've been told that I have soft hands, too.