Love. Just reading that word makes me cringe. Before I let you in on the thoughts of a cynical romantic, let me set the record straight: I have no problem whatsoever professing my love for my family and friends, but my initial reaction to romantic love is to run in the complete opposite direction. The ever-so-famous Urban Dictionary defines a cynical romantic as "someone who thinks love is a really nice thing and a great ideal, but believes that it is something that will realistically never happen." While I personally believe that love is what makes this world go round, it's so over-dramatized nowadays that I have absolutely no interest in talking, texting, posting, or tweeting about it whatsoever. So, if you're like me and Pinterest wedding boards or "relationship goal" Twitter feeds have you rolling your eyes into another dimension, then strap yourself in because you're about to embark on yet another relatable internet journey. (I know, it's like I know you).

1. You're conflicted. Constantly.

Whenever you see a happy couple holding hands, kissing, or doing anything else on the lower end of the PDA spectrum, you instantly become annoyed because even if you were/are in a relationship, you'd never dare show affection with so many people around. On the other hand, you secretly wish someone was that proud to show their feelings for you, but you shut it out because a thought like that is unacceptably corny.

2. Romantic gestures are no exception to mental conflict.

You don't like flowers -- they remind you of funerals. You don't like cuddling -- the combined body heat is like sleeping in a bonfire. You don't like love letters or poems -- you'd try so hard not to laugh in a guy's face if he wrote you such a thing (you're not mean, it's just way too much). The intentions behind it are sweet, but being showered with affection is something you're just not into, and you have trouble explaining why when people just assume you're weird.

3. Rom-coms are two hours of pure yawn.

Romantic comedies are a huge no-no, and you dread when your friends scroll directly to this section of Netflix because it's usually the same story. Guy meets girl, conflict occurs, and due to some perfectly-timed eavesdropping, bursting through church doors or showing up at the airport just in time, they still miraculously get together in the end- as if this is a realistic and frequent occurrence. This genre is a huge reason you're cynical since it makes life seem so easy, but you know it's a load of crap. Come on, Nicholas Sparks, that's not how this works.

4. When people say "goals" in reference to relationships, you throw up a little.

The same goes for when people post weekly or even daily paragraphs on their Instagrams about how in love they are. You spend a lot of time questioning the thought process of others when scrolling through your social media because of how materialistic love has become. People are constantly desiring what others have instead of being happy with what they already have, and that makes you sad as hell. When girls glorify the make up, clothes, jewelry, stuffed animals, and other expensive gifts/dates just to brag and get more likes, they place significance on everything except their significant other.

5. "Good Morning Beautiful" texts are the reason your phone is on "Do Not Disturb."

Uh, good morning, handsome? I'm flattered, but please stop. It's nothing against the guy, it's just so overused that it means next to nothing anymore. Also, any excessive use of cute emojis and/or pet names is the equivalent to feeling like several hairy spiders are crawling over your shoulders. So thanks, but no thanks.

6. You'd rather die alone than online date.

Countless apps are utilized for dating and "hooking up" because it's convenient, and you can't deny that you've made a profile or two just to see what the hype was about, even if you deleted it the next day. People are different online than they are in person, and you can't see yourself basing a solid future with someone over a mutual taste in music or love for Chipotle. You want to meet someone the old fashioned way, but you're also too terrified to introduce yourself to that cute guy you saw at the grocery store because the ability to deal with almost everything through a screen has depleted your real-world confidence. So, instead of wasting your time worrying about meeting a blind date and hoping he likes you in person as much as he likes your pictures (and figuring out that awkward fine line between a relationship and "hookup"), you'll just keep waiting for your celebrity crush to come sweep you off your feet.

7. You look at food and dogs the same way people look at their partners.

All of the love, none of the stress. Although dogs are capable of getting themselves into some serious trouble, you can always count on them to be waiting for you with a wagging tail when you get home. And food, well, enough said.

Love is not something we have time to play around with, and modern romance certainly doesn't make it any easier. Maybe one day someone will come along and change our perception about all of this, but until then, you and I can stick to rolling our eyes, toning it down, and waiting on something real.