Saying "I Love You"

I think that both are important. My boyfriend is not big on saying I love you so he shows it more than saying it. Sometimes I just got to hear the words.

I think we use the word "love" too casually these days. How many of us are guilty of saying "I love my car" or "I love chocolate" or "I love this TV show". The more items we use the word to express our feelings for, the less it begins to mean. I think showing love in actions is much more important than saying the words. Anyone can say it. You can lie and fake words but it's much harder to fake a demonstration of love.

I am not used to say the words. I should not be, but I feel embarrassed to say the words. So I mostly do it in action. And I can type it in my emails. I just can't seem to say it out loud. I wish I could. I know I cannot assume that my family just "know" I love them.

My husband and I tell each other everyday how much we love each other. Its always nice to hear it.

You must do both. Sue told me today "she knows how much I love her because she sees it in my eyes." But I am still going to tell her at least a dozen times a day. I also tell her she is beautiful. I want her to know that is how I feel. I express emotions quite easily. There are many others things I say when the emotion strikes. Interestingly, I am very guarded on negative comments. I assume they may be impulsive and I will regret saying them, so I hold my tongue 99% of the time.

I also tell my daughter I love her every day. The poor kid lost her mommy to illness last year. The least I can do is remind her I love her every chance I get.

I personally like to hear it in words and see it in the actions that the person who loves me does towards me. Saying "I Love You" is a very personal thing and it isn't something that should be said unless one truly means it. If one doesn't truly mean it, those words could end up causing more pain than happiness in the long run. I'm all for saying it when you're ready and showing it by doing little things for the person you love that you know will be meaningful to him/her.

I think both ways are best. My parents never said I love you. My dad told me twice in my life. Both times were in the last year of his life and both times I was sitting down. Good thing too, because I would have fallen down if I had been standing up. I make it a point to tell my son every day. He has no problems saying it. I am glad he has been able to grow up where his emotions are accepted.

Either is fine by me. Having been born into and raised in a Japanese family, displays of affection like that just weren't the norm. I knew my parents loved me without the hugs and words. In fact, except with my husband and grandchildren, I'm a bit self-conscious when it comes to giving and receiving hugs.

I think the words can be over used and quite frankly feel you can tell how a person truly feels by their actions. Then again it might just be a cultural thing.

I, too, think it's important to say it and to show it. Saying it without any meaningful actions takes away the validity of the words. You can say it a million times, but if your actions don't show it, then the words mean nothing. It's also nice to hear the words. My husband and I say it many times a day to each other, and everyone in my family ends every phone call with an "I love you". My kids must hear it a million times a day from us. We always say it when we can, because you never know when you won't be able to.

I am good at speaking the words regularly. I tend to not be very physically affectionate unless I put some thought into it. I wish it was something that came naturally. I'm not averse by any means but just tend to not think about it.

My husband on more than one occasion has mentioned to me that I don't tell him enough. Although I do many things to show my love and appreciation, I think it is necessary to also say it. It makes your partner feel like they are really loved, and everyone likes to hear it!

Yes, BOTH - words without corresponding actions are empty. But if you do NOT also frequently look your beloved in the eye, with no glances toward the TV or passers by or the kids or the cat or whatever - and tell them from the depth of the heart, " I love you so very, very much!", then trust me - a day will come when you will not be able to do that again, ever, and then, all the tears, regrets, wails and cries, will change nothing at all. Never pass up a chance to express your love. And please, never say it without thinking and focusing and meaning it with all your heart.

Actions speak louder than words. I can't remember the last time the words I love you were spoken in my house. This has worked for us for almost 33 years.

Of course both are important. My family was not very affectionate at all when I was growing up, so I was very uncomfortable with saying and displaying love when I first ventured away from them, and I still am in certain situations. But my bf and I both tell and show our love to each other many times every day.

I think I agree with what I believe the majority do. I am sorry I did not read all of the comments. Both are important but I believe actions speak better than words. The words won't mean much here unless the actions back up the words.

My husband comes from an interesting family. His mother is very quiet and not the kind to show emotion. When I gave them thier first blood grandchild I couldnt tell how she felt. She didnt say much she didnt show much. But his father is open. He can tell us and he shows us. So when it comes to my husband its hard for him. He is torn I think by to ways to handle his emtions. But he tells me every day that he loves me. We hug and kiss and do small special things for our children everyday. We are both very hands on and open with our love for eachother and our children. I think it is good to say it often and to show it often and for children to grow up seeing and hearing it.

I think it is important to show our feelings for our family. I didn't grow up in a family that showed any feelings and I made sure when I had kids that they knew that I loved them

yes if u truly love someone then i think its better to express rather than keepin it in heart..and by chance if she does love u..ur lucky..else u would know what she got to say..just spell the very three word and see..!!

I think both are important. My husband and I tell each other at least once a day,usually more. Same goes with my kids. We also show it on a regular basis. I came from a family where everyone was uncomfortable saying or showing it, but my husband's family is quite the opposite. In fact, it was pretty overwhelming getting to know them because they are so "hands-on" with all the hugging, kissing, etc., but I wouldn't trade it for anything now. My dad has actually said "I love you" to me 4 times that I can remember, and his dad (my grandpa) MADE him tell me the first time I remember it...the other times were at my wedding, and twice when I said it to him and (I think) he felt obligated to say it back....Don't get me wrong...I know he loves me...it is just very,very hard for him to say the words...in fact, when he did say them, he got all choked up. Anyway...I am just saying that although I KNOW he loves me, I also NEED to hear him say it occasionally, and it means so much to hear it, knowing how hard it is for him to say it....

Both are essential.