Bob [Knight] was well-known for his fiery temper. And he had an intense, imposing demeanor that made him seem very intimidating. But over the years, I found a way to cut through all that. If I wanted to stop him in his tracks, I just had to say, "Hey, Coach, I just want you to know one thing. I love you, man. You changed my life."
That would melt him right down. As it does most people. I've learned that it's hard for people, especially males, to tell other people, "I love you." Even with my own son, for most of his early years, I noticed it was uncomfortable for him to say "I love you," back to me. It's strange because each and every one of us has a thirst to be loved, to be appreciated, acknowledged, respected. And yet, for some reason, there's a difficulty or discomfort in expressing to others, "I love you." "I appreciate you." "I respect you." "I'm glad you're my friend." "I know we have our differences, but I'm here for you."
I think we would be surprised by how few people regularly hear these kinds of things. I would wager that over half of the young people in America go to bed every night without hearing a single affirming word.
-George Raveling, What You're Made For: Powerful Life Lessons from My Career in Sports
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