I think one of the most wholesome compliments someone can give you in this day and age is “I remember you.”

One Friday, I began to text someone I had only just met through a dating site. We only saw about three pictures of each other, many of them blurred or at bizarre angles, as you do when you’re trying to make yourself look interesting.

The following Saturday, I went alone to an event downtown. Not only were there thousands of other attendees at the event, but the venue itself was in the heart of the city, full of families, friends, and tourists. This was on purpose. My introverted psyche demanded that I spend the day alone, even if it were alone in a crowd. I observed the children and couples meandering, walking slowly around the area during breaks in the event. Invisibility was all I wanted.

The Sunday afterwards, I met this person face-to-face on our first date. The first question he asked me was: “Were you downtown yesterday?”

I replied: “Yes, I was.”

He said: “I recognized you. I wanted to say hello but I wasn’t sure if I should.”

I could only stare at him in response. After only an exchange of about three poorly-shot photographs, and a few messages, he was able to discern me, me, out of half of the population of the city. He remembered me.

And rare as it is for young people, who often discard one another to form new and shallow relationships, this person was not distracted by the many other women around him on Saturday. Somehow, my image remained. He caught value in it and held on to that memory long enough to ask me. This is how you show interest and respect in a world that would otherwise gladly leave you behind.

Please, think humanely of another person. Pay attention. Remember them. This may be the most genuine compliment you can ever give.