Insecurity Underlying Over-sensitivity

A few weeks ago, my driver in Cambodia said to me, “Even though you are black, you are beautiful.”

Did I get angry or take offense to being called black? Absolutely not. It is a fact that I am black. If I had to take offense to what he said, it would mean I have my own insecurity about being black.

Did I expect him to be politically correct, and call me a person of color or dark skinned? Absolutely not. In fact, I appreciated that he was trying his best to compliment me in my language. I am a foreigner in his country yet he tried to speak my language to compliment me.

Moral of my story: Do not take offense or get angry when people speak honestly and directly. We should not expect sugar coating. Let us rather value the meaning of what is being said.