Never underestimate the power of a compliment

Have you heard about “The Compliment Guys?” Two Purdue University sophomores, Brett Westcott and Cameron Brown, have gained national renown for their unorthodox but inspired practice of complimenting complete strangers.

They started on a Purdue campus walkway where, on Wednesday afternoons, they would spend an hour or so complimenting fellow students and other passerby on their clothes, shoes, sunglasses, hairstyles and smiles.

To date, they’ve been contacted by Oprah Winfrey, Jay Leno, Ellen DeGeneres’ producers, USA Today, The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, and ABC and Fox News. Their story aired on hundreds of radio and TV stations across the country and in media around the world. They recently completed a 10-city tour sponsored by Kodak.

What does this say about our society today that random acts of kindness to complete strangers make headlines?

Maybe we need to declare a National Compliment Day. Or earmark some Americorps funding for a “National Compliments Squad.” Or decide to commit our own random acts of kindness.

Imagine the possibilities……………………….