That guy at the coffee shop who called my zine "cute" and I still think about it 2 years later

2 comments

2 Comments

oh man, "cute" is such a loaded word. it really is. what worked for me in a similar situation was just owning the compliment, like really taking it for what it was. i had someone tell me my writing was "interesting" once and i spent weeks trying to figure out if they meant it in a good way or a bad way. eventually i just had to tell myself that their opinion doesn't change what i made or why i made it. that coffee shop guy probably meant it as a nice thing, like he actually looked at your work and had a reaction. sometimes people just don't have the right words but their intent is good. it's easier said than done but try to let it be a nice memory instead of a puzzle.

richard_roberts802d ago

Wait, two years? That's like dog years for awkward compliments, right? I had someone tell me my band's demo was "brave" once and I'm still not sure if that meant it sounded like a cat stuck in a blender or they were just impressed we didn't quit. Honestly, you could spin that "cute" into a badge of honor - like it's so obscure and niche that the only word that fits is something that sounds dismissive but isn't. Or just start telling yourself he was trying to say "groundbreaking" but choked on his own tongue. Either way, it beats being called "loud" or "confusing" which is what usually happens to me.