Mélanie Berliet

They regard your professional goals as no more or less significant than theirs because you are truly an equal in their eyes, with equally important life objectives.

Indoor skydiving: When you experience the rush of flying through the air with someone you love, you end up with even more than an adrenaline boost. You get an instant memory rooted in a shared “first,” too.

Can we laugh together about things that once made us feel tense, letting mishaps become fodder for bonding rather than scars we continue to pick at?

When your significant other mentions the future as if it’s assumed that you’ll still be together and the reassurance that they’re just as committed as you are is more comforting than a warm, snuggly blanket on a frigid day.

If they won’t commit, it’s because they don’t want to. Not because they’re incapable of it.

The average person might be trained to gloss over the details that make her seem vulnerable or anything other than put together, but the truth is that we’re all messy, flawed individuals. By stepping forward as the perfectly imperfect woman you are, you will come across as totally unconcerned by what others think, and incredibly relatable.

Acts of service: You trust innately in the value of good deeds, knowing in your heart that the spirit of generosity through service is contagious.

This guy will understand that dating you is a privilege, and that if he sticks around long enough and asks the right questions and pays attention, he will end up a better man for it.

When you whip out a batch of lemon infused vodka popsicles at an outdoor shindig, you’re pretty much guaranteed to be everyone’s favorite guest.

Real guys tell us what it takes to be boyfriend material.

You’re not counting on a relationship to make you entirely happy because the kind of fulfillment you’re after in life requires so much more than the right guy.

“I was a jerk for so long. It’s like I didn’t even understand that I was interacting with other humans or something. Then I met this girl in college who changed my entire perspective—on life AND love…”

Physical contact doesn’t have to be sexual to turn a guy on and leave him thinking about you long after you go your separate ways. Every in-person interaction is an opportunity to introduce the idea of hooking up without being overtly sensual.

You’ll feel your heart sink every time you return to an empty house because you’d honestly rather be wherever your boyfriend or girlfriend is at all times.

Physical touch: You’re an expert at affection and everyone loves you for it.

Quality Time: You want the people you love to be there for you, literally.

Our refusal to hold men accountable for cheating seems like an offshoot of our tendency to admonish women for being sexual—to slut shame them for the very same behavior that earns men “player” status.

Short but sweet, these sensual tales will make you want it in five seconds flat.