We all know what love is, or at least we think we do. If you asked your neighbor what they believe the definition of Love is, some may say "butterflies", "the sun on a rainy day" or even "the first person you want to tell your good news to." It wasn't until I was older that I learned love is not someone telling you they love you. It is not the feelings you get when you see someone walk through the door. It is not sweet words or a good morning text message.

So how do we know if someone truly loves us?

It is by their actions.

Love is an action, not a feeling. It means holding the door for your significant other, grabbing their hand when you walk down a crowded street and laughing at their jokes even when their jokes aren't that funny. Love is something special, but love is not love without the actions. Love is holding your soulmate when they are in tears, or forgiving them when they have done wrong. It is respecting one another and making a choice every day to serve them better.

I can say I know what love is based off good and bad relationships from the past, the one I am in currently, and the example my parents set for me every single day.

Love is fighting for the other daily, choosing to sacrifice what you want to make them feel appreciated. It's deciding to be a better person for not only yourself, but to make your man/girl proud of who you are or are becoming.

To love someone is easy, but to let them know you love them can be a lot of work. At first, showing someone you love them feels like nothing. You bring them flowers, take them on a few first dates, shower them with surprises and cuddle them every chance you get, but what's really important is doing those same exact thingsfifteen years down the road. No, that does not mean buy them the best, most expensive gifts every Christmas or take them to dinner three nights a week. It means continuing to choose to show you love them through simple actions; such as patience, kindness, understanding, trust, hopefulness, and perseverance. True love is something that gets sweeter with time, even throughout the hard times. Love is being there for someone no matter what.

Trust me, I am still learning what love is and what it is not, but these are just the few things that I know about it and thought I would share.