How often do you find yourself saying the phrase, "I love you" in a day? Do you throw it out like loose change or hold on to it like it's the most valuable thing you own? You should do the latter, but lately, I've noticed in myself and others, that this phrase tends to be uttered more out of habit rather than intention. The phrase itself seems to be losing all meaning. I toss it out to my Starbuck's barista and the Jimmy John's delivery guy more often than to people I actually care about and do love.

Have you ever been in love? Do you remember how scary it felt to say "I love you" for the first time to someone you actually cared about? I remember the words rolling around in my brain for weeks, wondering when it felt right to actually say it out loud to someone I really cared about. I contemplated three tiny words for what felt like an eternity, so why do I throw them out like they're nothing now?

We tell our best friends we love them for simple tasks they help us out with, or our parents as we're running out the door, and even our significant others (if you're so lucky) before we go to sleep. But, do we really mean it?

Maybe you do (I certainly hope you do), so the next question then is, why are you saying it in the first place?

If we really think about it... Do you even need to say "I love you" to show someone you love them? Of course, it's important to tell people how you feel, but I challenge you to take a second and think about why you're saying it in the first place. Every time you say "I love you" do you think about how much you really care about them? Do you think about why you fell in love with them in the first place?

If you don't, you should. Next time you say "I love you" make sure you mean it and you know why you're saying it. Think about why you love them. Don't just say "I love you" out of habit, or to apologize for something, or because you think you have to. Say it because you mean it.

Or, don't say it at all. Find a way to show someone you love them without saying those three little words. What's your love language?