Why Do We Wait?

As this quarantine causes a lot of us to be more "alone" than we're normally used to, it's also caused me to be more alone with my thoughts as well. As I realize that there are definitely people I miss, I think about the people who I appreciate spending time with and their friendships. 

This has me thinking the (most likely) common question "Why do we wait to tell people how we feel about them?" Why do we wait until it's too late, or never at all? Is this some unspoken rule that people inherently follow? Are we not supposed to tell people how much they mean to us? As I look back on many years, I realize that I see/hear (and sadly, say) more negative things and criticisms than I do compliments. 

Is this something that we'd rather hear from people instead of telling people? If that's the case, maybe that's why people hardly ever hear it, because it requires someone saying it first. Then I wondered, is this something that makes us uncomfortable? (to say, or even hear?).

Even as I'm writing out these thoughts, I'm finding it difficult to bring myself to speak words of genuine appreciation to certain people on my mind (even though there are a lot of people I appreciate and really want them to know this!). Why is this? Is it because I/we are afraid people won't accept what we're saying or won't really care to hear what we have to say? Or is it because I/we are worried that by voicing our appreciation for people, that it means we have to commit and follow through with those words with more action? Maybe it's because if we don't say anything, we don't feel obligated to have to do anything with it, and we can hope that everyone just assumes they're appreciated?

I honestly don't know. Here's to more thinking.

What do you think?