When is it acceptable to say this? Total strangers have said this to me in the past. Why? Surely they should be saying that I should be proud of myself?
I have often said it to my children because they do make me proud to be their dad, I have said it my wife.
Why should an achievement or action of mine make a stranger proud? Has anyone else experienced this?
I have told one person (outside of immediate family) that I’m proud of them, and qualified it by saying I have no right to say it..but I am, very proud of them.
They were very touched.
I really wouldn’t like anyone outside of my family to say either they were proud of me, or I should be proud of myself.
And of course the ‘you should be proud of yourself’ thing depends on context.
Anyhow, I’m proud of myself for things no one knows about, and never will.