My roommate told me the other day that in our long relationship I had told her I loved her five times. I didn't realize I'd gotten so carried away.
Tell my wife ever day "I love you" and she says it back. We also tell wife's sister, brother and niece that on the phone at the end of the conversation. Say that to my brother when we talk to him on the phone. Perhaps if more of today's couples and families said that short phrase, we'd have a better society. . Anyway, a lot of couples will say, "she (or he) knows I love them, because I show it everyday." Really reminds me of the Karen Carpenter Story movie where a family therapist asked her parents "how often do you tell her you love her?". They said "she knows we love her, because we show her every day." The therapist told them, "tell her as well". So, the night before she died, as Karen was walking up the stairs to go to bed, her mom looked from the bottom of the stairs and said "Karen, we love you". Karen smiled and died that night. So, let all of us TRY and put "I love you" into use with family and see what happens.
Tim Allen once said he apologizes to his wife at the beginning of every day to make up for the times he offends her, even the ones he doesn't know about. I profess love to my wife every morning and every evening; I couldn't get through a day if I didn't hear it in return.
If it's just an automatic "I love you" ...I'd rather have actions rather than words. I talk to my son less often than I talk to my daughter and I always end all conversations and texts with "I love you" and texts with ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ One heart for each member of his family...but I talk to my daughter a few times every single day and I seldom say "I love you". She knows it though.
Some people use it too much and easily...my ex still says "I love you" when I talk or text....then I feel like I have to say it back even though I don't love him. I say it quickly and quietly...just a love you too. Always makes me feel bad.
Well, no matter what, saying "I love you" can/does make a world of difference to some people. Showing love and saying "I love you" is done by wife and I all the time. Heck, I will send her a text at work that says "Miss you, love you". She absolutely loves it and will return the text the same way. My Guardian parents showed me love thru a place to live and food, but "telling" was very seldom done. Personally, I like both, showing and telling.
I don't know if any of you are familiar with this guy, but he is the equivalent of Alaska's Poet Laureate. This is a song he wrote to his wife a number of years ago. He has a family history of dementia, and has became an advocate for treatment and cure.