Dating can feel like a modern form of torture—especially when you end up with someone who doesn’t like you nearly as much as you like them. If the feelings aren’t mutual, then you might as well tell him goodbye, because things will be a hell of a lot easier once you find someone who actually appreciates you. This is what it’s like to love someone who loves you back.
1. You want to kick your past self’s ass.
You can’t believe you put up with your ex’s shit for so long. What were you thinking? The man you’re with now, the one who actually cooks you dinner and plays with your clit, is the type of man you’ve always deserved.
2. You feel like a goddamn goddess.
You knew you were a catch long before you started dating. You didn’t need a man to make you see how valuable you were. But there’s something about the way he looks at you, with love instead of lust, that makes you feel even more beautiful than your favorite pair of yoga pants ever could.
3. You start to “get” the whole marriage thing.
You never understood how anyone could last a year in the same relationship, let alone an entire lifetime. But now that you’ve found a man who treats you the way you deserve, you’re thinking further ahead into the future than you ever have before. Surprisingly, there’s no end in sight for you two.
4. You don’t have your usual doubts.
You don’t have to wonder if he loves you, because he shows it whenever he kisses your forehead as you’re falling asleep. You don’t have to doubt your beauty, because he tells you how gorgeous you are every morning before you put on your makeup. You don’t have to wonder if you should break up, because he makes it clear that you’re both right where you’re supposed to be.
5. You say those three little words every chance you get.
You don’t have to worry about driving him away with the L word, because he says it to you just as often as you say it to him. Your intense feelings don’t seem scary, because you two are on the same page.
6. You brag more than you complain.
You ranted about your exes to anyone who would listen. No matter how happy you were with them, you could always find something to complain about. But now, no matter how annoyed you are, you’ll always find something to brag about. He’s your dream man, after all.
7. You have plenty of free time.
Now that you’re in a happy relationship, you have one less thing to worry about. Instead of stressing over what to wear on a first date or what club to visit to meet eligible men, you have more time to focus on advancing your career and picking up new hobbies.
8. He puts in as much effort as you do.
He won’t run after a fight. He’ll actually sit down with you to have a mature conversation, because he wants to fix your problems instead of creating more. He values the relationship as much as you do, which is why he’s going to do whatever he can to make you happy. He knows you’ll do the same.
9. He’s on the same page as you are.
He loves you, so he’s not going to freak out when you suggest meeting his parents or moving in together. In fact, he might be the one to bring the topics up in the first place. You’re not the only one thinking about your future, because he’s as serious about the relationship as you are.
10. Honestly, it’s a relief.
You’re done being the single friend. You don’t have to deal with fuckboys texting you at midnight or sneaking out of a stranger’s apartment before the sun rises. Instead of hopping from bed to bed, you get to fall asleep in the same man’s arms night after night. It’s your favorite place to be.
