Mélanie Berliet

Real guys share how a girl inspired their personal transformations.

When a coworker or a friend asks how everything is and you can’t help thinking of him and his irresistible grin.

I don’t need to understand how she exists, or why. My sister is with me at all times, but her presence is somehow more pronounced when I need her the most.

Staying out way longer than you should because FOMO.

If you don’t respond in a timely fashion, people will actually start to think something’s wrong and reach out to you AGAIN, adding to the intimidating backlog of messages lingering in the never-ending digital hellhole that is your smartphone.

Facebook: Above all, you crave a serious, meaningful connection and you aren’t afraid to make yourself vulnerable to get there, sharing all your deepest secrets earlier than most.

Forever means that you never get to stop growing, as an individual or as a couple. Because the second you turn your back on growth—on the sheer will and work it takes to evolve, as people and as partners—your relationship will begin to erode.

“I just want to sit here and watch you be you.”

If he pushes you to do anything you’re uncomfortable with in bed, he’s an unevolved asshole who deserves a public beat down.

When your significant other fails to pick up on the fact that you’re desperate to leave a party already so they engage literally everyone on your way towards the door, extending your stay long past the point of tolerable.

Truthfully, at the root of our cultural obsession with marriage, I smell fear and insecurity.

“It’s hard to keep your head up when you can assume everyone’s talking to a bunch of other people at all times too.”

The greatest gift is getting to be yourself day in and day out. It is such a relief not to pretend—ever, not even for a second, because you are so certain that you are loved by another person for exactly who you are.

When you catch them staring at you with those crazy eyes that basically say, “I adore you and I’m yours for good.”

You don’t need a fairytale ending, let alone a fairytale life. What you need is a partner who gets it—who understands that it’s going to be tough and who’s prepared to dive in anyway.

“She was perfect, or so I thought until I caught her one night…”

If a Taurus is the object of your affection, prepare to get touch-feely because physicality is important to these sensual creatures.

Real men share their exact strategies for being loyal boyfriends.