I simply can't take praise well outside of a community of practice. What matters most to me is the practice itself: building tools that listen, step back, and serve what is already alive in communities. Steps (ala NVC) Name what you actually observed Not “you are amazing,” but “when I read this sentence / saw this choice / witnessed this action...” Name what it touched in you “I felt relief / clarity / trust / encouragement / resonance...” Name the value or need it met “because I care about integrity / grounded practice / humility / service / real community benefit...” Name the impact or learning “It helped me see...” or “It gave me language for...” Avoid turning the person into an icon Keep it connected to the work, not pedestal praise. Example compliment: “I appreciated the way you named the risk of tools becoming the center. When I read that, I felt clearer and more grounded, because I care about technology serving living communities rather than replacing them. It helped me reflect on my own practice (which I understand as XYZ).”