P - Praise (#AtoZChallenge)

Praise, like criticism, is one of those actions that creates an emotional reaction, whether deserved or not.

Many years ago I was on a management development weekend with my employer.  The presenter was explaining the importance of learning to give  advice with out descending into criticism. We then did an exercise in praise. Two people were selected to stand up at the lectern and read out a poem. The audience was instructed to clap and cheer loudly after the first person read their poem. After the second reader, we were instructed to keep very straight faces and make no response. Both readers understood the audience's instructions. After the exercise, both readers were asked to describe their emotional response. Despite both having done identical presentations and both knowing the audience's instructions, still the applauded candidate felt pride and pleasure well up inside him, but the other candidate felt a downer.

The power of praise should never be underestimated.

As parent's we should know that praising a child's achievements will benefit him/her much, much more than criticism or plain obliviousness or worse, disdain.

As a grandparent, I am getting to enjoy again, involvement in the growth of my grandchildren.

As lovers, and/or in your sex life, do you praise your partner enough? When was the last time you told them they were a wonderful lover?

Even in my commercial sexual life, praise and compliments are important. Sure, from the lady's perspective, her job is to make a man feel great - sadly a proportion of their clients have self esteem issues. Praise, however feint, is part of the job. But feint praise gets to be a bit funny after a while, such as "Oooh, You so big" when I know quite well that I am just very average. But sometimes, one gets a nice spontaneous complement - once, the tongue engine had just given this particular lady a big orgasm, and as she came down from the heights, she gasped, "Oh my god! Where did you learn to do that?". At least in that environment, it is quite acceptable to have learnt something from another lady. It's nice to walk out feeling like Don Juan, even for just 5-10 minutes, instead of common old Tom Smith.

I am very lucky to have found some wonderful Ladies Of Pleasure with whom I have had some incredible times. Even though cash has changed hands, I still like to give sincere praise, complements or gifts when warranted.

 
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