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Sometimes it's not enough to say I love you. Show it.
By Becca Martin — Written on May 27, 2016
"I love you." Eight letters, three words, a million meanings. The word love gets thrown around so often. People say it when they don't mean it. They use it to describe things they in no way actually love, they get it mixed up with feelings of infatuation, or they just say it because the person they're conversing with says it first.
Love should not be a limited feeling, but being in love with someone should be a special thing and it should have a special meaning.
Love shouldn't only be what you say at the end of a phone call because it's routine. Love shouldn't be constantly embedded in a text. Love shouldn't just buy you presents because you want them. Love shouldn't just be words; it should be actions.
Love should be showing up. Love should be:
1. Starting your car for you in the cold
2. Sleeping next to you at night
3. Helping you carry groceries in
4. Sharing your phone charger when theirs is broke
5. Taking care of you when you're sick
6. Holding your hand in the car
7. Singing off key with you
8. Leaving random love notes
9. Encouraging you to be the best you can be
10. Supporting your hobbies
11. Surprising you
12. Eating breakfast with you in the morning
13. Reminding you of your parent's birthdays
14. Bringing you coffee to work
15. Picking up movies to watch together at night
16. Staying in on a weekend when you're sick
17. Attending events you don't want to actually be at but doing it for the other person
18. Listening to you
19. Letting you pick dinner
20. Remembering the little things
21. Not acting different, regardless of who's around
22. Helping you through problems
23. Giving you advice
24. Carrying your extra bags
25. The first voice you hear in the morning
26. And the last voice you hear at night
27. Making you smile
28. Making you feel safe
29. Wiping your tears
30. Holding you in their arms
31. Opening the car door for you
32. Keeping little mementos of things you've done
33. Finding beauty in the small things
34. Stroking your fingers while holding your hand
36. Having patience
37. Wrapping their arms around your waist
38. Dancing with you
39. Treating your friends like family
40. Being optimistic through hard times
41. Having a positive mindset
42. Showing generosity
43. Speaking kindly to you
44. Being gentle with you
45. Cuddling with you on the couch
46. Never giving up on you when things get tough
47. Standing up for you
48. Showing how much you love them, instead of only saying it
49. Believing in you
50. Laughing at your jokes
51. Never taking you for granted
52. Inspiring your dreams
53. Forgiving you
54. Holding the door open
55. Pushing in your chair
56. Comforting you
57. Willing to take risks
59. Loving you at your best
60. And loving you at your worst
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This article was originally published at Thought Catalog. Reprinted with permission from the author.