Love is…
Remembering their coffee order,
Or surprising them
With chocolate
After a long day
When everyone’s tired
And things feel bigger
Than they are.

Love is…
Gentle touches
While folding laundry,
Holding hands
While driving to the store,
Or lingering gazes
While cooking dinner-
Knowing that these silent moments
Are the ones you’ll remember.

Love is…
Actively listening when they speak,
Learning who they are
And who they want to be,
Using that information
To be a better partner,
Better friend,
And better lover.

Love is…
Celebrating the daily wins,
No matter how small,
With excitement and joy.
It’s also sharing their losses,
Their anger and grief,
So they know that, no matter what happens,
They aren’t alone.

Love is…
Being vulnerable with yourself
And letting them see
The deepest parts of you
Without fear or shame
Because you know that
Love is a two-way street
And you can be as attentive as possible
But it means less
If they don’t get all of you as well

Love is…
Open communication
Where words flow freely-
Sharing hurts, calming fears,
And finding compromises.
Because, despite the idea
That love is complicated
And takes hard work,
Love is actually easy
If you’re with the right person
And vow to grow together
No matter what.

Editor: Shannon Hensley