There's a story behind it that's not casual, so I'll kinda shorthand it.

But, I had a patient years and years ago that started out in a really bad state. It took months of working with her to make any progress for a ton of reasons.

But she was the very first person to call me their teddy bear.

Which wasn't really the nice part, it was the follow up.

I laughed it off and said I am/was pretty hairy.

And she said that it wasn't that, it was that she always felt safe and loved when I hugged her.

It was a pretty damn big deal to hear that. Again, for a ton of reasons that aren't casual, I needed to hear something like that at the time.

A workmate took the time to learn a phrase on my native language and told me over the phone "you're the best of the software team"

A co-worker once told me that I had the most unique metaphors they had ever heard.

There's several that come to mind that stay with me:

"I love you"

"Thanks for saving my life, you're an angel"

"Your art is some of the best I've seen"

"You are beautiful"

"We highly respect your professionalism and we are very happy with you as part of our company and team" First time i really ever felt appreciated at work 🥹 👍

"You're amazing, don't change" from a coworker I really valued

Cool shirt dude

• it was a particularly good Spider-Man T-shirt

“I’m so grateful you’re in my life.“

Still makes me feel…. Just wonderful.

A doctor I worked with said I'm a force of nature.

I have gotten a compliment but I don't remember it as it was before I started living. (The birth was separate event) From the ones that I remember: "You are insightful" by my best friend.

"I love you."

~ My mom