Everyone likes a good compliment, don’t they? So long as it’s sincere and not overdone. We like it when people notice good things about us. A compliment can instantly improve your mood, give you energy, make your whole day brighter. But have you ever been the recipient of a backhanded compliment? That refers to a compliment that somehow seems more like an insult when you think about it.  

The editors at Reader’s Digest magazine compiled a list of backhanded compliments submitted by their readers. A woman named Ann Abernathy recalled the time she sang a solo at church. A gentleman commented to her afterwards, “I liked your song for two reasons. You sang it well, and you didn’t sing too long.” (Ann Abernathy, Colonial Heights, VA)

A man named Rich told about working for a demanding and dif…