Have you read The Help? Or for that matter, watched the movie? I really enjoyed both the book and film, and in it one character, Aibileen, tells the children she watches that they are good and smart and important. Okay, call me a sap, but I loved this. Loved this. For so many reasons. I don't think things like this are said enough, especially not to children. But you know what else? I don't think our friends hear it enough either. When was the last time you told your friend that they were important? Creative? Or just plain extraordinary?
I think the reason some people don't do this is because they'll feel stupid saying it out loud. But look, you're not going to do this with every person you meet. You're going to do it to your really good friends, the ones who have shown you what friendship really is. When was the last time you told one of them something special like this? If you haven't, look for an opportunity to do it. Don't think that your friend won't believe you or that he or she will think you're being insincere. I'd be willing to bet your friend would (as Mark Twain once said) live on that compliment for a long time to come.