Every week day, I get up, get dressed, do make up, hair, perfume, pick out jewelry and head off to work. And here’s what I’ve noticed in the past few years. On the rare occasion someone says “you look nice” ,”that’s cute” or “you smell good” it’s never ever a man. Ever. The only people who say anything remotely positive are young women. Yesterday, it was my friend Tasha…she’s 28 or 29 I think. The day before it was my daughter Lex (you can always count on daughters).
Now, here’s the part of this story that really gets me, and I promise, I’m not looking for compliments. I hear men compliment younger women (20-38) all the time. I understand at that age they are simply more attractive. I was fairly hot when I was twenty eight and living in the Keys. But men, you could find something nice to say if your tried, I really believe that.
I think the problem is men are scared to say anything nice to a woman 40 and older. I think they are afraid we’ll think they are creepy, misogynistic, sexist or slimy. Guys, if you say something like “hey baby you look smokin’ hot this Monday morning” you’re right, I’ll think ugly thoughts about you and I’ll work hard not to punch you in the throat.
If instead you say, “good morning, Diana, you look nice today,” you will absolutely make my day. I promise. I really need the compliment now.
When I was 28 or 30 I didn’t really need your compliments. I knew I had it going on. Men, when you tell a beautiful 32 year old how amazing she looks it’s kind of like putting sugar in the Cool-aid. Young women who post a lot of selfies probably already know how hot they are.
But when you say something nice to a 50, 70 or 80 year old woman it’s different, every kind word is like a lovely salve on the wound of time. When you say something nice to a grown woman, I promise you ninety nine percent of the time…you’ll make her day.
Wait, I’m going to revise my stand. You don’t have to stop compliment the pretty young girls, you just need to include us too. (I don’t want to sound old and bitter and jealous. Too late? Damn It.
I tell random men they look nice all the time. I tell strangers they smell good at the grocery store (if they are wearing smell good stuff they want to smell nice) , I tell bank tellers I like their Picasso ties, I told a dude at the Dollar Store yesterday that his high tops were cool looking. A compliment makes people smile, it makes people happy, so who am I to deny other people joy.
So men, fear not! It would be wonderful if you said something nice to a woman over 40 today. Don’t be afraid. If she misunderstands…she’s an idiot.
PS: My husband is excluded from this blog. He said something nice as I left the house this morning.
Yesterday, my oldest daughter, Mary called after work. I was driving Sandor to Taekwondo. She works at an inner-city boys and girls Club in Indianapolis. There are days she’s the only white person in the building.