There isn't a simple answer to this. I'm not sure it can even be explained in words but I am most definitely in love.

I met my husband when I was in my last semester of high school. There are/were 12 years between us. We met as romantic leads in a play, and when we spoke to one another, it was challenging and fun. I have a lifelong, ridiculous fear-almost phobia, of getting in trouble. It made/makes me a goody two shoes, the teacher's pet; the one never sent to the principal, much less grounded by my parents.

But when I was with Brandon, even though we had to hide, and my heart went through the roof every time my phone rang, thinking that it was someone who caught us; I was willing to risk it. He made me feel like I was in control of who I was going to become, and who I really was at the time, and suddenly, I did everything I could to challenge that fear. That's not to say I finally rebelled, and went around spray-painting buildings and stealing cars, but I was willing to deal with the consequences of being with him, and those irrational fears of being in trouble just weren't as important as what we had.

I was a much more selfish and self-centered person in high school. Not mean, or spoiled, but I didn't have a natural tendency for sympathy, and an insatiable need to succeed and work. True compassion and sympathy just isn't the way my emotions are wired. I could fake it, and be supportive of people, but it always felt like a facade. The long term boyfriend I had before was more of a pet than a companion. Brandon changed that. I suddenly cared very much for someone else, and he made me want to be a better person to the others around me, someone who really could be understanding and gentle, rather than logical and cold.

When I look at him, I see the person I want to be, and the person I want at my side in life. I knew I was in love the moment that first happened.

Just last night confirmed it even further, there's times where you cannot find the right words to express how much you want and need somebody.

-happy sigh-

I've never actually been in love, I guess I'll just know when it happens

i love my hubby

I don't really believe in One True Love or anything like that. I believe most of us have the capacity to love many people in our life. It just matters where we are, when we are there, what we're ready for when we're there, and who we happen to meet there etc. It's just...a lot of chance factors coming together in an auspicious way. That's what love is, for me. I'm in love with my partner, but he's not the only one I could love, and maybe not the only one I ever will. I could see myself spending the rest of my life with him, but maybe I won't. I still find romance and loveliness in it all, but I look at it fairly rationally. I don't think rationality and romanticism have to be mutually exclusive

For me, it was the point in which I realized I was completely comfortable and didn't feel like I had to hide anything from him anymore or work hard to impress him.

It's hard to explain but...
I trust him with everything. I don't feel the need to keep things from him because he'll find me suddenly unattractive because I didn't dress up before he came over, or because something I did or made wasn't perfect. I also trust him with other women. The way he treats me tells me that he wouldn't do anything to hurt me.

And, even things that normally bother me about people don't bother me as much with him. Sure, I don't really enjoy repeating myself because he wasn't paying attention, but it hardly bothers me when it's him. Somehow the good things make the negative things seem so small in comparison.

And, with him I enjoy things that I normally dislike. Football, wrestling, movie theaters. I would never choose to watch football or wrestling on my own, and I almost never go to movie theaters. They don't make sense to me, and movie theaters smell like BO and sex. Not hot when you're watching The Lion King. But, if I'm with him, they are enjoyable.

We feel safe and comfortable with each other. No matter what happens, we pull together and stick it out. I guess that's how I know that I'm in love. It's either that or, I'm willing to wait 3 months at a time twice a year while he's at sea. I guess that's a pretty good indicator too.

I think the answer to that lies in each person, but for me I know I am really in love Because. He knows my deepest secrets and I know his. Things he has never told anyone, but me and the same for me. He knows my faults and my quirky ways and accepts them. And I accept his. We have been through so much already in the short 5 years that we have been together, and have mad it through. I mean we have had some really rough times times where I think most people would have walked away from the other person. We understand neither one of us are perfect, and that is OK. To have a life long relationship last you have to understand that things are not always going to be good. There will not always be happy days, moments filled with joy and bliss. But we know that if we did not have those moments the moments that where good, and happy and full of joy and bliss. Would not seem so great! We look at our grandparents who have made it over 50 years together married. They did not get that far agreeing with each other all the time. I took work and tears, and communication. Even if you are mad or angry to keep calm and listen and let one another speak without yourself speaking over them. Life is not easy and being with another person is not either. But it is not impossible and when you feel that love inside. That is when you know it is real. When you are apart your thoughts are of them. You count the moments when you see one another. Each day you fall deeper in love. Conversations are never dull, you always find something to talk about. Silence is never a good thing break it. Never leave the house upset and stay gone. It is OK to take some space and cool off. Cause you cannot talk like that anyways. Sometimes you have to go to bed mad, but do not leave and start a day still mad or at least make sure you say I love you if someone needs to leave. You do not want something to happen to the other person and wish your last words weren't the ones from the previous night. Make sure it is I love you, even if you do not like them right now. All relationships are hard Parent-ship, Friendship, Partner-ship. None of them are easy, but they all happen for reasons.

When your mate is your first thought in the morning and last at night

with my wife, i knew i was in love when i kept thinking about her, about the future, and it almost physically hurt when i wasnt around her. even though we werent having sex for the first 3-4 months we were together, i didnt care, i just wanted to be with her

When you know it's the real thing, you just do.

You just know.

I don't know yet, I haven't found it and knowing me like I do. I probably never will.

It can be hard to explain, I just knew because I had an overwhelming sensation of love,lust, passion, friendship, trust, comfort, safety, it was everything good you could imagine. I still feel it when I look at him. It overflows my heart everyday, and I still get excited every time he comes home from work. When you know you really know!

I know this is cheesey and cliche, but you just KNOW. You can feel it. You act different around them, you're constantly thinking about them. There's just too much that happens to list.

You just know. Its a very strong feeling.

I love my man! I'm sure there are other people I would work well with, but why keep looking for something better when I love what I have?

It's just one of those things, u just know. And can't explain it

you just know

I knew the minute that I met him. We just meshed so well. I was completely comfortable being myself. He puts up with me and I pamper him lol.

Hard to explain, I guess comfortable.

I knew when i started making plans for my future, but it was always plans for our future. We would find ourselves making plans and setting goals together without even thinking about it. It was just natural and amazing.

When I think about the other persons needs as much as mine. When I respect them as much as I respect myself. When I imagine having them in my life until I die. When the person becomes an essential part of my life (and when all of this holds true from their perspective as well)