A boy tells you he loves you. A man tells you he loves you and backs it up with his actions.
A boy makes you feel like you’re not good enough. A man makes you want to be a better person because you have so much genuine respect for him.
A boy is possessive. A man is protective.
A boy makes you feel like you need to downplay your accomplishments so as not to embarrass him. A man is not threatened by your success, but proud of it, and inspired by it.
A boy is concerned with his own pleasure. A man cannot enjoy himself unless he knows you are too.
A boy underestimates you. A man is not afraid to challenge you, because he knows what you’re capable of.
A boy will be interested in your life for as long as he can get something out of it. A man will be interested in your life because he cares about you and wants to understand you more deeply as a person.
A boy is threatened by the idea of feminism, convinced that being feminist classifies you as angry, aggressive, and man-hating. A man understands that feminism is simply the belief that men and women are equal.
A boy thinks he must provide for you. A man knows that a relationship means the two of you are providing equally for each other.
A boy bottles everything up, and lashes out because of anger or other pent-up emotions. A man admits when he needs you and when he needs to talk, even if it makes him uncomfortable.
A boy is always thinking of whether or not he could do better. A man knows when he has something good right in front of him and never takes it for granted.
A boy makes excuses. A man admits when he’s screwed up, and always does everything he can to fix it.
A boy is either needy or impossible to get hold of. A man always makes time for you, while also making sure he has a life outside your relationship.
A boy is only interested in beauty. A man appreciates your physical beauty, but is most attracted to your personality.
A boy thinks he already knows everything. A man walks around with the mindset that there is always something new to learn from everyone he encounters.
A boy focuses on what he wants now, now, now. A man lives in the now but is always planning for the future.
A boy will spend time with the friends of yours – if he likes them. A man will spend time with your friends regardless of his feelings towards them, because if they’re important to you, they’re important to him.
A boy makes rash decisions based on his immediate desires. A man understands the concept of being rational and having priorities.
A boy needs you because of his fragile self-esteem. A man needs you because he believes his life is better with you in it.
A boy is concerned with how you look to his friends. A man does not care about what other people think, as long as you’re happy together.
A boy is ready to do anything to get want he wants. A man is ready to love without hesitation.