Today I sat down to re-read some encouraging notes and cards that I have received and saved over the years. As I went through I was struck, as I have been many times before, at the use of the word "love". Going through some of my old camp encouragements, the word "love" was used freely particularly by girls, but also from guys. As I move on from camp though into my college years, that word becomes much more prominent in notes from guys, and all but disappears from the female side. And the converse is also true, my expression of affection and care for the opposite gender has become considerably muted in the years since those camp days. In the (almost) year that I dated a girl at college, neither of us said "I love you" once. This lack of verbal affirmation stems (at least in part) from a noble desire - to avoid creating heartbreak by saying things you can't back up or from unintentionally communicating romantic interest. Guarding others' hearts and all that.
