"hey girl, i like your pants!"

- a chick on the subway declares to one of our heroines in Candace Bushnells book Lipstick Jungle.

wouldn't it be a nicer place if we more often gave each other a verbal thumbs-up?

i often miss the moment, think to myself, damn i should have said how nice he looked, or how lovely her voice was. maybe it's shyness, praps laziness. as australians, does it come from our too-far-in-the-past-to-actually-be-blameworthy early english occupation?

because it's really nice to receive a complement, gives you validation, makes you smile.

praps it's all part of learning to live together - god knows we need to.

so let's work on this together. let's every day tell one person you appreciate their hair style or their fit body, let them know when they've done a wonderful job or shown you some kindness, when they've let you in in traffic, or held open a door, when their eyes sparkle or their pants look hot, whatever.

go boldly, have some fun, make the world a sweeter, cheerier place. please.