Holly Riordan

You don’t have to be afraid of your own emotions. Yes, it’s scary to develop feelings for someone who might not return them. It’s scary to open up your heart and give someone else the chance to break it.

When you love someone, you support their hopes and dreams. You push them to reach their full potential. You don’t hold them back out of fear of losing them.

Social anxiety means you have to push past your discomfort anytime you want to send a text, answer an email, or make a phone call.

Sometimes, it’s frustrating when your conversations all take place over the phone. If you like this person, you want to meet up with them face-to-face to see whether you’re compatible.

Sometimes, relationships naturally move at a fast pace.

If their love language is quality time, they’re going to value every single moment spent with you.

If their love language is words of affirmation, they’re going to make you feel loved and valued every single day.

If their love language is acts of service, they’re going to help you out with your chores whenever you’re stressed. You won’t even need to ask them to pick up your slack because they will volunteer on their own.

Actions are as important as words. Even if you vocalize your feelings for your partner every single day, saying sweet words isn’t enough. You need to back up those words with your actions.

It’s always nice when your crush shows interest in you, too. When they like your photos and comment with fire and heart emojis.

You don’t have to pretend you’re emotionless. Even though there are people out there who are going to run the other way when you show the slightest ounce of emotion, it doesn’t mean you need to play it cool.

Breadcrumbing is when someone you’re crushing on senses that you’re interested in a relationship, so they give you just enough attention to keep you around.

When you love someone, you’re going to give them one hundred percent of your energy.

You might not want to ruin the friendship by hooking up on a whim if you know you’re never going to end up together.

Thinking that you’re behind everyone else and are never going to catch up. Your timeline is going to look different than your friends and parents and peers.

You should make the first move because waiting is the worst part. Wondering whether they feel the same is the worst part. Examining every move they make in person and on their social media is exhausting.

You never congratulate yourself over your wins–but you dwell on your losses. You should be proud of yourself when you accomplish something special. Don’t brush it off like it’s no big deal and move onto the next thing.

You cannot control their thoughts or decisions. It doesn’t matter how long you try to talk sense into them or how valid your points are.