Our family is disinclined to hyperbole, and reticent about flattery. One of our son-in-laws is effusive in his compliments, often speaking of his "beautiful wife" and the genius of his sons and his own accomplishments. It rubs me the wrong way, but what annoys you should be examined, and I was doing that yesterday. Why should it bother me? Because it's not "our" way of speaking? He has every right to his own flowery speech, and it doesn't harm anyone. My impulse when someone goes on and on is to doubt the authenticity of the speech. But why? It's not fair to him.
So I'm thinking he has something to teach the rest of the family about speaking emotionally and complimenting others. I'm excellent at thanking people for their help and efforts and concerns. That's my strong point. But he does that very well. So it comes down to difference in style, not substance, and perhaps I could be more enthusiastic, and take a page from his book. Judgment comes up mainly because my family didn't "toot their own horn" or over praise. He has a right to his own expression, and I intend to be open minded about it and even, just possibly, learn something.
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