Little White Lies
When I see a stranger wearing what is obviously a handknit scarf, I compliment them. I even do this for the most hideous of basic handknit scarves. You know the ones. The ones that look like someone skinned a clown and then tried to paste them back together with glitter glue? Those.
I do this because I know this person is wearing it for one of two reasons.
Number one: it’s this person’s first scarf and they’re wearing it because they’re very proud, and they’ll enjoy telling me about it.
Number two: it was a gift from someone who made it for them, and they love that person and will be happy to brag about their handmade gift.
Regardless, nobody deliberately wears a scarf like that unless wearing it makes them feel really good above and beyond just having a snazzy scarf to wear.
Complimenting them is and is not a lie. It is a lie because chances are, I hate the way their scarf looks. But it’s not a lie because I love the fact that they’re wearing it, and what wearing it says about them. Commenting on it makes me feel good and it makes them feel good.
Do you tell any little white lies because you know they’ll give a boost to the recipient?