Prompt of The Week: Write a poem/prose piece encompassing the best compliment you've ever received.

@Clarisse29

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@Clarisse29

Compliments, what is a compliment to an introvert? Wait I heard there is more than one type of introvert. Oh here we go, splitting hairs again.
But what if the introvert also had DID? Then it would be possible to be more duplicated in Introvertisms or eses. Slight giggle had broken free on that one … hopefully.

OK off track again, welcome to my world. To put it simply, I am an introvert. A compliment to me might very well not be to someone else. The setting is I am in college and I am there because industry does not accept skilled laborers without “proof”, such as degree or certifications. At the time I really didn’t understand fully who I was but looking back, I had applied DID to my college life. So I was a different person. I had applied myself in college with groups, clubs, etc. Completely out of character for me. I had been exhausted during my college life.

I was forever challenging what was in the book and what was being ‘said’ by the professor. Challenging as in ‘How is my answer wrong in ...’ or ‘How did you get ...’ and also ‘I did what is here but it didn’t result as you…’ From time to time, a professor would fulfill a role (class) that is outside of their scope and at which I would continue to challenge, but I would explain how or what is through evidence or accepted sources.

It wasn’t until I started reaching the end of my college life, senior level, when I began hearing “nerd” and “geek” from the people around me (peers and professors). To me, I took it as a compliment. Any time the professor would ask a question the Professor would say “OK anyone other than the Nerd here know the answer?” It might have been said in jest or derogatory, but it was wasted for I didn’t get it.

So why is this important? In small towns, the people you start First Grade with, will more than likely be with you at high school graduation. Your neighbors are your teachers, principals, hall monitors, and cafeteria workers. Your mother will know everything that happened at school before you get home, small town world. Since grade school, I had been labeled. Labeled as in ‘Troubled Child, ‘Problem Child’, and had been told ‘You will never amount to anything’. At any time I attempted to go beyond the basics in english, math, and science, I was informed ‘I am not smart enough’ and was denied. So to hear “Nerd” or “You’re such a Geek” to me is a great compliment.

@Clarisse29

There are a lot of ways you've complimented me.

Verbally,

Affectionately,

Simply wanting to talk to me,

See me,

Let me be me.

When you were there for me when I needed you,

When you considered me worthy of gifts,

When we can make each other laugh.

But I think this biggest compliment of all,

Is when you challenge me.

You trust me to listen to you,

To disagree with you,

To listen anyway,

To want you to be you,

To reflect yourself off of me,

To learn and grow together,

Things that need different fuel and catalysts,

To know that this is where it all needs to be,

Where even conflicts may compliment each other.