I guess in a way everything is relative--not just honesty. We look in the mirror and see nothing but flaws. This is too big, that is too small. The nose is turned up, or the eyes aren't positioned correctly. We decide before the day begins that we aren't good enough and go through the day thinking this. When someone comes along and wants to pop our little bubble, we become definsive and confused. Basically, they are saying that all those things we saw this morning aren't real and that we are completely wrong in how we see ourselves.

In well-behaved society, compliments were never made to be taken. When one says very sweetly, "thank you," to the person who has just said, "You have a very pretty smile," one can be accused of being egotistical. I do not understand this attitude, and in fact encourage my students to accept compliments graciously, but with limited success. I believe that the more times I tell them that they are beautiful, smart, kind, and good, the more likely they will be to accept that side of themselves.

How unfortunate that society, as a whole doesn't agree.