When you love someone, you shouldn’t take anything sweet they do for you for granted, even if they’ve done it a million times before. You should continue to show them your appreciation long after the puppy love phase is over. You should make sure they realize just how much you care about them, how much you respect them, how much you love them.

When you love someone, you shouldn’t go too long without saying please or thank you or I love you. You shouldn’t make your partner wonder whether everything they’ve been doing is for nothing, whether you even notice all of the effort they’ve been putting into your relationship. You shouldn’t give them a single reason to believe you’ve grown bored of them or are neglecting them.

When you love someone, you give them validation. You congratulate them on even their smallest victories. You help them feel good about themselves. You remind them how much work they’ve put into everything they do, you let them know how much you appreciate their effort, and you remind them to be proud of themselves.

When you love someone, you don’t pick apart their dreams. You don’t discourage them from trying new things. You don’t make them feel like they’re stuck in the same place. You encourage them to chase after their desires. You encourage them to reach their full potential. You support them in everything they strive to accomplish. You push them toward success, toward a better future.

When you love someone, you freely show them affection. You hold their hand in public. You kiss their cheek and their forehead. You make sure they realize how lucky you feel to have them. You make sure they realize you’re proud to be seen with them.

When you love someone, you remind them of their potential. When they’re feeling bad about themselves, you give them reasons to smile again. You comfort them after their failures and losses. You remind them one setback isn’t the end of the world. You remind them how tough they are and how they’re going to get through this with you.

When you love someone, you should give them a wide range of compliments. You should tell them how you’re feeling as soon as the thought pops into your mind. You might assume your partner already knows how you feel, but it’s always nice to hear the words aloud, which is why you should never keep your emotions inside. You should never hold back your kindness.

When you love someone, you don’t take from them without giving anything in return. You don’t feel flattered by all of their attention without doling out attention of your own. You make sure to return the effort they put into the relationship. You make sure you’re showing them just as much love as they’re always showing you. You make sure everything is equal, that you’re a true team.

When you love someone, you should show appreciation for them. You should make sure they know exactly how much they mean to you.