Be subtle, but loving.
By Emily Ratay — Written on Feb 23, 2018
One of the best things about love is that there are SO many ways to say “I love you” without actually having to say the words. Sometime's actions and sentiments say "I love you" more than the words themselves, actually.
Whether you feel like you already overuse this phrase and want to get creative or you have trouble saying the actual words, now is the perfect time to try something new.
With love celebrations like Valentine’s Day, anniversaries and birthdays, you can either say “I love you” like you do every year (or maybe aren't ready to do that quite yet), or you can say something that is more heartfelt and full of emotion.
You may not know this, but we already tell people that we love them without even realizing it.
Whenever your best friend drives home after a night out with you and you say, “Text me when you get home,” you’re saying that you worry about their safety. When you ask your significant other, “Can I make you something to eat?” you’re telling them that you care about their needs.
And this worry and care that you have for the people in your life isn’t just those two feelings; what you really mean is that you love them and you want them to know it.
So, instead of telling your boo on Valentine’s Day “I love you” (I’m sure they already know you do), say something that genuinely comes from the heart and sounds more like you.
Even if you’re not a romantic person, you don’t have to force yourself to say something that sounds like it came straight from The Notebook. That might come off a bit cheesy, anyway.
Just saying something like, “This made me think of you,” will touch their heart because they will know that you were thinking about them. And what’s a better feeling than being thought of by someone you love?!
But if you’re like me and your mind draws a blank every time you try to think of something sentimental to say, we found some of the best love quotes to share with your significant other without having to say “I love you,” that will still have a lot of meaning.
Tell Them How Much They Mean to You
“I just want you to know that when I picture myself happy, it’s with you.”
Tell Them How Much You Want Them in Your Life
“There isn’t one person in this world that I want more than I want you.”
Let Them Know How Much You Fall in Love With Them All the Time
“I still fall for you every day.”
Let Them Know How Much You Need Them
“You are what I need in my life.”
Let Them Know They're the One for You
“What I have with you I don’t want with anyone else.”
Tell Them You Were "Meant to Be"
“Your hand fits in mine like it’s made just for me.”
Tell Them How Much You Want Your Relationship with Them
“I only want two things in this world: I want you and I want us.”
Let Them Know How Fortunate You Feel to Have Them
“Have I mentioned today how lucky I am to be with you?”
Let Them Know How Often You're Thinking About Them (If It's True)
“You’re my very first thought in the morning and my very last thought at night.”
Tell Them How Perfect You Think They Are
“Everything I’ve ever wanted is right in front of me.”
Let Them Know How in Love With Them You Are
“When I follow my heart, it leads me to you.”
Let Them Know They Were What Was Missing From Your Life
“It’s simple: You complete me.”
Let Them Know How Obsessed You Are With Them
"In case you ever foolishly forget: I am never not thinking about you." — Virginia Woolf
Tell Them How Hopelessly in Love With Them You Are
"And suddenly, all the love songs were about you."
Tell Them How Connected You Feel to Them
"There is my heart, and then there is you, and I'm not sure there is a difference." — A.R.Asher
Tell Them How Much You Enjoy Being Affectionate With Them
"I just wanna see you. Hold you. Hug you. Touch you. Kiss you. Cuddle with you."
Tell Them That You Want to Grow Old With Them
"I swear when our lips touch I can taste the next sixty years of my life."
Let Them Know You Think About Them Even When You're Not Together
"Out of sight but babe you are never off my mind."
Tell Them How Sure You Are of Them
"If you can't get somebody off your mind, they are probably supposed to be there."
Tell Them How Much You Enjoy Spending Time With Them
"Sitting next to you doing absolutely nothing, means absolutely everything to me."
Emily Ratay is a full-time writer living in Pittsburgh who's passionate about the environment and feminism, and knows that anything is possible in the right pair of shoes.
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