10 Things I Know About Real Love

Contrary to the popular belief of all those behind the "Screw Valentine's Day" tweets and "Who needs another Hallmark holiday?" Facebook statuses, love, and celebrating love on February 14th, really isn't overrated.

Love. Changes. Everything. Love is everything! All that it is cracked up to be and more. So in honor of Valentine's Day, here are ten things I know to be true about real love.

1. Everyone wants love. Really, they do. Loving and being loved in return is a natural human desire. People have their walls up and sometimes make it seem like the desire to be in a relationship is the last thing on their list, but they aren't fooling anyone. "Love is the irresistible desire to be desired irresistibly." They want it too!

2. Love is a drug. It is seriously addictive. Falling in love activates the brain's pleasure centers, increasing the production of dopamine. This is the chemical that makes you feel good, boosts your energy, lifts your mood, and focuses your mind. No wonder we can't get enough of it!

3. It doesn't matter how you find love--it only matters that you find it!  When you find the person you love, it won't matter if you met him or her on an online dating site, through a matchmaker, or at a traffic light in a three-car accident. Love is love.

4. There is no time-line for love, but you do have to love yourself first. As the saying goes: "You can't hurry love". There is no magic time for when you'll fall in love. It can happen on the tenth date, the fortieth date, or when you haven't had a date at all, but only if you love and respect yourself! If you really love someone, you will not rush them to profess their love either. Love happens when it happens.

5. Love is inconvenient. Romeo & Juliet taught us that s**t! You can't always choose who you'll fall in love with, when you'll fall in love, and if it will be unrequited love.

6. It happens when you least expect it.  Cliché, but true. So true.

7. Real feelings can't be turned on and off like a faucet. There is no expiration date for love, and you could always love that person--if even just a little. Of course, this is really annoying when you are in love with someone who you can't/can no longer be in a relationship with. But for most people in such circumstances, the strong romantic feelings will pass in time.

8.  Love is acceptance. When you love someone, you accept (nearly all) of that person--both the good and the bad. You truly accept all of their flaws. You do not have an agenda of wanting to change the person you love. That being said.....

9. Love. Changes. Everything. Falling in love will turn your world upside down and make you realize things about yourself and life in general that you never did before. Real love changes everything in a positive way.  It makes you want to be a better person!

10. Who you love is none of their business. People will always have opinions. They will always talk. If you love the one you are with and they treat you well, who cares what anyone else thinks?!

Want to share something you've learned about real love? Leave your comments on the blog below. Happy Valentine's Day!

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