Say the nice thing while they can still hear it. Eulogies are compliments that showed up late.

People save their warmest words for occasions, and the biggest occasion arrives too late to do the person any good. Part of it is shyness, part of it is assuming they already know. Mostly it is that admiration feels like something you would say at a milestone, when in fact it is the ordinary Tuesday version that changes how someone sees themselves.

Think of somebody you quietly think highly of and tell them one specific thing this week. Not a summary of their character, just the thing you noticed. Saying it badly and in person beats saying it beautifully later.