Why should I have to tell you that I love you? I’m married to you, aren’t I?
Why should I have to compliment you for doing your job? I pay you every week.
It’s the “I shouldn’t have to tell you – you should just know” phenomenon, and it isn’t just confined to elderly, curmudgeon men.
Words are hard for many people. They find it difficult to express feelings of love, affection or admiration, and getting a compliment out of them is like trying to squeeze water from a stone.
Being stingy with praise and affection is a problem that shows up in the workplace, in marriages and even with our own children.