You have this person. They astound you. They make and break your heart 60 times in 60 minutes, simply by looking at you. Others may not understand. To them, you two do not stand a chance against the components of time. But you see things differently, you are made for each other. Here’s how you hold on tight and never let go.

1. Compliment them. So what if your best friend thinks they are a nerd? You love that about them. Do not take the insults of others upon the person you hold highest in order to withhold your social ranking. The person you date is not an accessory to yourself. Just because you’re “cool” and they are a “loser” or vice versa, does not change who you are. When the rest of the world is pointing out their faults (as they are to yours) shut those voices down. Tell this person about their overwhelming worth.
2. Ignore others. Unless the person you hold dear is causing physical or emotional harm to you, the opinions of others are absurd. They have no idea how strong your connection is. Their opinions do not matter.
3. Be faithful. Faith is not something that we are born with. We develop faith in the relationships we have with others. Whether that faith is in God, your parents, our President, it is a delicate object that grows and builds strength but can easily be broken. Do not destroy another man's faith. No matter what selfish answers you can ponder up for why your infidelity is okay- it is not. Do not destroy another man's faith.
4. Respect their parents. Yeah yeah, you are great. You completely encompass them at this time. But for a decade, two decades, before, these people put every ounce of their being into your person. Respect what they have done to aid the person of your dreams into growing into the adult they are.
5. Hold them high. Do not doubt their truth, do not doubt their voice. If you are seriously considering this person your life partner you do not need the read through their phone, their facebook, their DMs. If you can entrust your life in someone, you can trust them enough not to invade their personal items. If not, you are with the wrong person.
6. Hold yourself higher. Trust yourself to know what is right, and what is wrong. Trust yourself to go out with your friends for a night on the town. You love your person, there is no need to fear.
7. GO. They have an amazing internship abroad. This means a summer in Tokyo, Dublin, Berlin, where ever. You also have an opportunity. France, Sri Lanka, Sydney- hell, summer camp up north. Go. Live and experience everything this world has to offer. If they are the person, you will return home elated. You will share your experiences and maybe one day relive them together.
8. Love with every inch of your being, without fear. Your heart was broken once before, and you are terrified of feeling that way again. You do not want to go back to feeling worthless when you have worked so hard to become human again. Love without fear. Any second of love is worth a minute of heartbreak. Someday you will come to cherish the moments you have with a person, and let go of the moments you don’t. Love with all you’ve got, and do not be afraid.

I am sure you’re most likely thinking, “where does this girl come off thinking she can tell me how to love the person of my dreams?” You’re right. My credentials are lacking. I lost two boys, well I guess they’re men now, that I believed were “THE ONE.” I have self reflected in my days of heartache asking myself where I went wrong. At first, I did not do anything wrong. They were the sorry loser. But after thinking and dreaming about them, I have discovered my own faults. In hopes of one day treating the real man of my dreams as well and I should have treated the past, I write these notes. I want to be a person who loves without fear, who holds myself higher than I hold my significant other. I want to go and live the life I dream without losing the one who means most. I want a mutual respect with the people who raised the person I love. I want faith so deep that moments of doubt never reach my mind. I want to ignore the thoughts of others. And I want the person I love to hear me kill their insecurities everyday with my words. I want real true love, and I believe this is how I will achieve it. I am starting the journey of recreating the way I love in order to be better loved.