“They don't speak ill of you to their friends, and you don't say anything bad about them, either (your business is nobody but each other's, anyway).”— Emma Lord, bustle.com
“You’re not worried about what others think of your relationship. You don’t feel the need to broadcast your love on every media channel, obsess over vague texts with your friends, or nervously wait to hear if your parents think that they’re right or wrong for you. You know how you feel, full stop. Yo…”— Heidi Priebe, thoughtcatalog.com
“You don’t have to stress about when to text them. When you see something you know they’d find hilarious, you can triple or quadruple message them and not worry about ‘coming on too strong.’ Your communication isn’t a game – it’s a genuine form of getting to know each other and you’re both enjoying e…”— Heidi Priebe, thoughtcatalog.com
“You’re turned on by them even when they aren’t being sexy. The way they sip their coffee or talk about their interests is somehow as erotic to you as seeing them naked. You’re attracted to the very essence of who they are, rather than just the way they look.”— Heidi Priebe, thoughtcatalog.com
“Holding their hand feels like the most natural thing in the world.”— Kim Quindlen, thoughtcatalog.com
“Doing small things that will make them happy makes you so incredibly happy.”— Kim Quindlen, thoughtcatalog.com
“They make you feel better without even having to say a single word.”— Kim Quindlen, thoughtcatalog.com
“You are both always prepared to lie for each other at social gatherings—to bail each other out of potentially awkward situations, or to save each other from boring conversations.”— Mélanie Berliet, thoughtcatalog.com
“You’re more willing than ever to compromise when choosing what to do with your free time, as long as you get to be with your significant other. It doesn’t matter where you eat, which museum you visit, or what movie you watch because the most important part of the equation—the person you spend time w…”— Mélanie Berliet, thoughtcatalog.com
“Since you’re not at all afraid to make fools of yourselves in front of each other, your partner is the best audience for your dumbest jokes and most awkward, spontaneous dance routines.”— Mélanie Berliet, thoughtcatalog.com
“They're attentive. Small, daily gestures of romance are an important part of a supportive relationship.”— Grace Elkus, realsimple.com
“They're affectionate. Whether its hugging, kissing, or cuddling before bed, regularly engaging in some form of physical affection is key to feeling connected to your partner.”— Grace Elkus, realsimple.com
“In the right relationship both partners are enthusiastic about a future together. And while not everything lasts forever, partners who share a vision for what their future entails are in a much better position than partners who don’t.”— Ibrahim Husain, lifehack.org
“He's not jealous. He trusts you. He doesn't get upset when he sees another man looking your way or trying to get your attention. He knows you're his, and doesn't question it.”— Teddi Ginsberg, wewomen.com
“You can be yourself. He's seen you at your best and your worst, and doesn't think any differently of you because of it. You're no longer afraid to go sans makeup or Spanx in his presence. He loves you for YOU.”— Teddi Ginsberg, wewomen.com