have you ever been stopped by a stranger....

[chiver78]

....to tell you you had a sunny personality and brightened up the world around you?

I stopped at the grocery store on my way home, and had the strangest encounter. there was a guy leading a mentally challenged guy around the store, helping him with his shopping. the helper was wearing a t-shirt with the name of a group home, or his volunteer group, I can't recall exactly. in any case, I ran into them a couple times around the store. I was laughing at myself for forgetting where something was in the aisles, and I joked to the helper as I walked by them that "one of these years, I'll figure out how the store is laid out!" with a chuckle as I excused myself to pass by them in the aisle.

a couple aisles later, I hear "excuse me, miss?" and the pair of them are calling me. the helper comes up and says that he wanted to tell me that he felt like I had this overwhelmingly positive personality and that it just shines through even in a brief passing by, and that I must brighten up the lives of those around me. um, thank you? I did smile when I said thank you, anyway. he then proceeds to ask if I'm a Christian, which generally results in the knee-jerk smartass reply of "no, I'm recovering, thanks" except he seemed just so damn earnest! so I politely said no, I'm not, but I still appreciate your thoughts, and thank you.

as I was walking away, I was torn between feeling happy that I brightened someone's day enough that they told me so, and feeling a little insulted that this guy doesn't think non-Christians can be positive influences on their environment.

weird. thoughts? I just had to write that out somewhere. thanks for listening.

[thyme4change]

to tell you you had a sunny personality and brightened up the world around you?

Not really, but I did have a co-worker tell me I had "a nice personality" and I asked him if he had just called me ugly.

[thyme4change]

P.S. He obviously didn't know me that well. I had him fooled.

[Jaguar]

Yeah I hear you. I've had the glowing praise given to me, but no one has ever gone on to ask about my spiritual beliefs. That's a first.

[Deleted]

the dude was totally hitting you

[chiver78]

May 7, 2012 16:56:32 GMT -5 @robbase2012 said:

the dude was totally hitting you

ya know, I thought that when he first started talking too, but he had this vibe like the ultra-Christian guy in my office. just earnestly naive, if that makes any sense.

[Peace Of Mind]

Or he was wanting to Baptize you in his own special way.

Yes, I've had people tell me that very often, but I'm the type that will talk to a wall I'm so friendly. I also just received a thank you card from lady at the dentist thanking me for being such a wonderful patient. DH got a crown recently and didn't get one so I think she really liked me. The lady that cleans my teeth wants to get together with me too so I must act different than most patients when I go to the dentist. LOL!! But they are really nice and I enjoy going there and I LOVE the lady that cleans my teeth! She is good at it and her conversations are interesting so I really should invite her over soon.

Everybody always remembers DH and will come up to him to say hello when they see him again. He never remembers them though. He's so shy but very sweet and treats people with respect. He also has a nice big smile.

[Artemis Windsong]

No that doesn't happen. Any more I am very careful about who I engage in idle conversation after a grievous problem with a woman runner in the NW part of our state.

[femmefatale]

to tell you you had a sunny personality and brightened up the world around you?

Never. ;D

[moxie]

Oh yes...I am told I have a sunny personality all the time...

[Peace Of Mind]

I forgot to add that when I was on Facebook it told me I was annoying so I guess it's all about perspective. ;D

[weltschmerz]

as I was walking away, I was torn between feeling happy that I brightened someone's day enough that they told me so, and feeling a little insulted that this guy doesn't think non-Christians can be positive influences on their environment.
____________

You were a lot more polite than I would have been. I would have felt HIGHLY insulted. Did he ask you if "you've heard the good news"?

[Malarky]

....to tell you you had a sunny personality and brightened up the world around you?

You really are sweet, in a sarcastic, irreverent sort of way.

[chiver78]

<snort> thanks, Malarky.

weltz, lol....no. I think I was so thrown by how polite and gracious he was. I was raised not to be rude, and have a very hard time doing so unless I'm *really* offended - by which point today I'd already started trying to get away from the pair of guys. when I said I wasn't a Christian, he suggested that I think about it. still polite, still earnest. like I said, very weird. and very un-Christian IMHO to assume that someone being sunny and positive just had to be Christian too.

[Deleted]

Yes, I've had people tell me that very often, but I'm the type that will talk to hump a wall I'm so friendly

I fixed it for you POM! ;D

As far as the OP...I haven't had those exact words, but I have had many co-workers tell me that they sure are going to miss my giggles and smile. I am a jokester at work. I love to laugh.

[weltschmerz]

May 7, 2012 17:55:01 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

<snort> thanks, Malarky.

weltz, lol....no. I think I was so thrown by how polite and gracious he was. I was raised not to be rude, and have a very hard time doing so unless I'm *really* offended - by which point today I'd already started trying to get away from the pair of guys. when I said I wasn't a Christian, he suggested that I think about it. still polite, still earnest. like I said, very weird. and very un-Christian IMHO to assume that someone being sunny and positive just had to be Christian too.

I've had some people tell me that I'm "much too nice to be an atheist".
WTF??

[dianartemis]

I had a perfect stranger tell me he liked hearing my laugh during a movie.

[weltschmerz]

May 7, 2012 18:07:58 GMT -5 dianartemis said:

I had a perfect stranger tell me he liked hearing my laugh during a movie.

Maybe he was being sarcastic, and trying to tell you you should tone it down next time?

[chiver78]

May 7, 2012 18:07:48 GMT -5 weltschmerz said:

May 7, 2012 17:55:01 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

<snort> thanks, Malarky.

weltz, lol....no. I think I was so thrown by how polite and gracious he was. I was raised not to be rude, and have a very hard time doing so unless I'm *really* offended - by which point today I'd already started trying to get away from the pair of guys. when I said I wasn't a Christian, he suggested that I think about it. still polite, still earnest. like I said, very weird. and very un-Christian IMHO to assume that someone being sunny and positive just had to be Christian too.

I've had some people tell me that I'm "much too nice to be an atheist".
WTF??

exactly! that's what bothered me today, too

[weltschmerz]

exactly! that's what bothered me today, too
--------------
I think we're supposed to have horns and fiery red eyes.

[dianartemis]

May 7, 2012 18:12:14 GMT -5 weltschmerz said:

May 7, 2012 18:07:58 GMT -5 dianartemis said:

I had a perfect stranger tell me he liked hearing my laugh during a movie.

Maybe he was being sarcastic, and trying to tell you you should tone it down next time?

Nah, I think he said it to piss off his girlfriend. I got the dirtiest look from her. ;D And I wasn't even the one flirting.

[Waffle]

Chiver,

Not those exact words, but I had something somewhat similar happen to me this past Sunday. I was at an antique show and a guy came into my booth - asked me if people were drawn to me. I don't remember the exact order of the conversation, but he did ask if I was Christian and then he claimed that he could see- I forget the exact words, but I think it was "the light of God around me" and also that he knew I had God's protection. He thought he had some sort of prophesy gift.

Even though I do believe in God (I'm Catholic), I found the encounter rather unnerving. I wonder if there is some sort of new cult/class teaching people to interact with other people in this manner.

[weltschmerz]

Even though I do believe in God (I'm Catholic), I found the encounter rather unnerving. I wonder if there is some sort of new cult/class teaching people to interact with other people in this manner.
----------------
Oh yeah? Well, two can play that game....

[Sum Dum Gai]

have you ever been stopped by a stranger....

Yeah, all the time.

....to tell you you had a sunny personality and brightened up the world around you?

Oh... no. They do tell me I'm number one a lot though. I think that's what it means anyway, they're holding up one finger and seem really excited.

[dianartemis]

[kgb18]

I have been complimented on my personality, but I've never had anyone ask about my religion.

Probably the nicest thing anyone ever said about me was to my parents. Shortly after I left my first job, I was at Happy Hour with my parents and ran into someone I knew through work. I introduced my parents to this woman. She told my parents everyone was sad that I had taken another job because they enjoyed seeing me. She told them I have a light inside of me that shines on everyone around me.

[gavinsnana]

May 7, 2012 16:51:29 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

....to tell you you had a sunny personality and brightened up the world around you?

I stopped at the grocery store on my way home, and had the strangest encounter. there was a guy leading a mentally challenged guy around the store, helping him with his shopping. the helper was wearing a t-shirt with the name of a group home, or his volunteer group, I can't recall exactly. in any case, I ran into them a couple times around the store. I was laughing at myself for forgetting where something was in the aisles, and I joked to the helper as I walked by them that "one of these years, I'll figure out how the store is laid out!" with a chuckle as I excused myself to pass by them in the aisle.

a couple aisles later, I hear "excuse me, miss?" and the pair of them are calling me. the helper comes up and says that he wanted to tell me that he felt like I had this overwhelmingly positive personality and that it just shines through even in a brief passing by, and that I must brighten up the lives of those around me. um, thank you? I did smile when I said thank you, anyway. he then proceeds to ask if I'm a Christian, which generally results in the knee-jerk smartass reply of "no, I'm recovering, thanks" except he seemed just so damn earnest! so I politely said no, I'm not, but I still appreciate your thoughts, and thank you.

as I was walking away, I was torn between feeling happy that I brightened someone's day enough that they told me so, and feeling a little insulted that this guy doesn't think non-Christians can be positive influences on their environment.

weird. thoughts? I just had to write that out somewhere. thanks for listening.

No, I think he was just trying to witness to you, thats all.

[Apple]

I haven't had that exact response, but I have had more than one older gentleman comment to me that it's nice when "a young lady takes a moment to return a smile" like I do. One of my nicknames at work is "sunshine", but I think they're being sarcastic when they say it

[gavinsnana]

Instead of being "highly offended" like some one posted.. just smile and be polite.

I have JW come to my door a number of times.. I politely take the pamphlet, tell them I am Catholic and have a blessed day.. I'm not offended at all.

If a Atheist came to my door, same thing. I would tell them I am a Christian, smile thank them, and have a blessed day.

Simple.. being nice goes a long way..

[Cheesy FL-Vol]

No, I haven't had that happen that I can think of. I have had a perfect stranger tell me that faith in God will cure my hearing loss though.