Admiration and respect is how impressed is defined; to show or feel admiration and respect for a person or a thing. It's a very simple concept and it should be easy to talk about what impresses me although I've found it's not all that easy at all, partly because I don't want to divulge too much of myself on social media and because it's a very broad topic not easily narrowed down.
I'll try though, and to make it easier on myself have chosen to share a couple of things that impress me in people, just to narrow it down somewhat.
I took this image
I'm fortunate to be the object of desire for a very special man meaning he's focused on me. I don't need to worry about his eyes roaming elsewhere when a pretty girl walks by; yes of course I know he looks but when he's with me I'm that pretty girl and that impresses me.
I know what it feels like to be appraised up and down by a man, often in a leering, disgusting or dirty way, and I find it creepy, disturbing and quite abhorrent, especially the way they seem to think they're doing me a favour by doing so, paying me a compliment as such. I'm impressed by people who have the manners and courtesy to treat others with respect and, in particular, men who actually like women enough to care about how they feel, be gentlemanly and polite and to make them feel safe and comfortable. It makes me feel at ease rather than making me want to shrink into the background and fade away or simply unsafe.
Using my man as an example once again, I'm grateful to have someone around me who has such morals and ethics, a strong sense of duty, honour and integrity and the work-ethic to do the things that align with it; personality traits that I am very impressed by in him, and others.
Our lives get difficult sometimes and it's often attractive to cut corners, take the easy way or simply ignore the complexities and difficulties rather than face them, however the easy way doesn't always lead to the best results and that's where those traits mentioned above come to the fore. There's so many people out there struggling through difficult times and situations and it impresses me when they take ownership and responsibility for themselves. There's people out there rising from abusive situations, those struggling with financial woe, veterans with PTSD battles, people fighting health, cultural and equality issues...strong people standing up to their problems and personally working towards solutions, just getting things done without fanfare, rather than expecting others to do it for them, and that impresses me.
I feel admiration and respect for many people and things and often tell those who impress me that I respect their efforts, tenacity, persistence, assistance or whatever is appropriate for the situation. I also feel a degree of admiration and respect for some of my own actions; it's not immodesty though, simply an acknowledgement of the effort, attitudes or abilities to face the difficult things in life; I believe we should all reflect inwardly and see those things in ourselves because seeing and acknowledging them helps us replicate them and that leads to better outcomes.
Becca 馃挆
Written in response to the #weekend-engagement concept by 