There are few better feelings than that of falling in love.
Realizing you've met someone who makes you happy, makes you feel better about who you are, and who you can't stop thinking about, no matter how hard you try.
As the saying goes, when you know you know, and sometimes it takes only a glance to know you've met the love of your life.
What you have no way of knowing, however, is whether or not the love you share with this individual will remain as strong as it was early in your courtship.
All it takes to rest that fear is an unexpected reminder every now and then.
Redditor alimentarymydear was curious to how people in long term relationships know their love and commitment to their partners remains strong, leading them to ask:
"People in long-term relationships, how do you know if you’re still in love with your partner?"
Chance Meetings Are Still A Possibility
"If I meet my husband outside the house and I don't expect to see him (we work in neighboring companies but not together) my heart still beats and I am very happy."- Just_Control9665
That Face
"I glance over at him once in a while and silently appreciate him and still find him physically attractive."- ThrowRAkiedis
His Feet Must Be Tired, He Keeps Running Through Their Thoughts...
"Hmmm I think just enjoying being in each others company, wanting to share my day with him, missing his presence when he’s away for work."- Material_Bluebird_97
If You Ever Leave Me, I'm Going With You!
"Just think of how life would be without them and you get the answer."- Icy_Data939
Love Comes In Many Forms
"Love is a choice."
"After the first two years of bliss fly out the window, love isn’t just rainbows and unicorns—it’s laundry and dirty dishes."
"You start noticing their quirks, the way they never put enough seasoning on the food or how they leave the toothpaste cap half-screwed on like it’s some kind of negotiation."
"Meanwhile, you resist the urge to remind them for the 27th time that dirty towels go in the hamper, not near it, and that dishes don’t magically hop into the washer like trained circus performers."
"When they’re irritable, you choose to give them grace—because everyone has bad days."
"When you’re having a bad day, you choose not to unload it all on them just because they’re closest."
"And when an attractive stranger gives you that look, you don’t start mentally drafting your escape plan—you think about the life you’ve built, the kids who have your partner’s smile, the inside jokes, the memories, the times you’ve held each other up when everything felt like it was falling apart."
"Love isn’t perfect, but neither is the other piece of a** that’s smiling at you."
"It’s a choice."
"A choice to endure the bad times and laugh again in the good ones."
"A choice to water your own grass instead of wondering how green it looks on the other side."
"So, no, you don’t just know if you’re still in love."
"You either focus on the flaws and let it slip away, or you choose—every day—to love them through the good and the bad."- TheOneSmall
Change And Consistency
"You just can’t imagine your life without them."
"You see them and you think, today’s a good day already; my favorite person is here."
"You’re not looking for perfection."
"They’ve got qualities you don’t and you have ones they need."
"You don’t have to be together; you just want to."
"You’re looking for kindness, attraction, loyalty, respect."
"Sex can be the glue that holds it all together but everything else has to work right, too."
"You don’t need to be the same or think the same, do everything together in lock step, and never be apart."
"But you do need to value the same things."
"And it all needs to be mutual."
"One person can’t love enough for two."- alwaysboopthesnoot
That Old Feeling
"You feel a warm fuzzy feeling when you see them, you feel more relaxed when they are around than when they are not."
"You want to share everything you experienced since you saw them last."- Peenutbuttjellytime
A Decision That Rests In Your Hands
“'In love' becomes 'love' imo."
"At some point staying together becomes a choice more so than pure animal attraction."
"I was in love with my husband in the early months of dating, then I grew to love him, then I decided to stay with him and take on life together."
"He is my family now."- Maleficent-Crow-5
The Eternal Missing Link
"I want to be around her all the time."
"We are apart outside of work during the week some, we don’t work out together, I mediate, she does yoga, etc, but I’d always rather be with her than alone or with other people, even close friends."
"I love her and it makes me cry thinking about her sometimes just how much she means to me."
"She is my life."- joshua27usa
A House Is Not A Home
"Home is in his arms."- Difficult-Orchid-111
When You Know, You Know...
"You feel it."- ZarieRose
It's The Little Things
"For me, it’s the way I still look at my wife and feel lucky to have her."
"After 17 years together, she’s still my best friend, my biggest supporter, and the person I want to share everything with."
"We laugh, we talk, we enjoy the little moments — and there’s no one else I’d rather spend my time with."
"That constant connection and genuine appreciation remind me I’m still deeply in love with her."- johnny_19800
Endless Excitement
"Because if he comes home early or unexpectedly, I'm happy about it."- Ok-Cheetah-9125
No Second Thoughts...
"You don’t need to think about it."- SuxRoosters01
...On Second Thought
"When I think about him, even if it’s not a good day for us, I still think he’s the best and I’m lucky we have each other."- Brute5000
Being in love is a truly indescribable feeling.
Making it hard to express why the one you love makes you as sublimely happy as they do.
Making that warm, comforting feeling they provide when you're around them all the reminder you need.
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