If we were bumper sticker people...

Aside from the Obama magnet I sported on my car for most of 2008 and the orange "O" magnet on the back of Matt's Buick, we are not bumper sticker people. Within the span of about a day and a half, however, I saw two bumper stickers that really need to be added to our cars:



Apparently, I'd also "rather be" a bumper sticker person.

"She's breathtaking"

There's a classic episode of Seinfeld in which a doctor tells Elaine she's "breathtaking." Not more than 30 seconds later, the same doctor says the same thing about a baby who is universally acknowledged as hideous. Naturally, Elaine questions about whom the doctor is lying, her or the hideous baby.

Every time I get my hair cut, my fabulous hairdresser, Rick, tells me that I'm "looking fabulous." Not supposing that he had reason to lie, I'm always flattered. Yesterday afternoon, while waiting for my appointment, a less-than-attractive woman walked in. She had thinning hair, painted-on eyebrows and an outfit that was at least two sizes two small. As soon as Rick saw her, he said, "Hey, darlin'! Lookin' fabulous!"

So who is he lying to? Me or the lady without eyebrows?! How often do we accept compliments without realizing that, no, we aren't "breathtaking," and, no, we are not "looking fabulous"? And in the grand scheme of things, does the true motive behind the compliment matter if it makes us feel just a little better about ourselves?