As anyone who's ever been in a relationship could easily tell you, there's a huge distinction between loving someone and being in love with them. The difficulty most people face is being able to distinguish between the two. You can love almost anyone, yet being in love with someone is a more intense and all-encompassing emotion where everything you do is tailored for your partner and all you want is to make them happy. Here are some ways to tell if you're in love or not:

1. You take care of them when they're gross-sick

Anyone could nurse their partner through a short and simple case of the sniffles. But what if they're throwing up everything and are too physically weak to leave the bed, essentially forcing you to baby them and put up with their gross fluids?

You know this person has a hold on you when you're doing exactly what their mother would if they were sick at home - swaddling them up in blankets, feeding them crackers and apple juice, and smothering them in love and affection while you watch Saturday morning cartoons.

2. You don't care when they're being essentially disgusting

There's a lot of things you'll put up with for people that you love. But when you're in love with someone, even the grossest and most offensive things are tolerable or even mildly endearing. For example, the two of you launch into burping competitions or just laugh when the other rips a fart that smells like a wild animal just wandered in the middle of the room and died there.

3. Their smile makes you smile

When you're in love, you'll do everything in your power to make your partner happy, even enduring personal sacrifices sometimes. Why? Just seeing them smile lights up your life and buds warmth in your heart and you'll do anything just to see it.

4. You didn't hesitate to let them meet the folks

Your parents are the most important people in your life, considering they're the ones who gave you life. You always want to bring someone home that they would be proud of you for, and there's definitely been boys or girls in your past that you knew deep down weren't worthy for the folks. You know you've found the one when you're 100% confident about bringing your partner home so your parents can see how happy they've made you.

5. You can be best friends with your lover

Let's face it—romance is totally overrated. I'd much rather belt out the lyrics to an all-time classic rock favorite with my boyfriend in the car rather than him just bringing me a bouquet of flowers every month. Being best friends with your lover builds a closer and more intimate bond as playful banter helps spur familiarity and decreases boredom. So blast Kansas the next time you're going for a drive and see who can scream the chorus to "Dust in the Wind" louder.

6. You're perfectly content doing the most mundane things with them

Taking day-time naps or binge-watching entire seasons of "Chewing Gum" or "Breaking Bad" don't seem so boring when it's with that special someone.

7. They have a permanent place in your future

After all, what's the point of finding someone you're hopelessly in love with if they don't have a secure spot in the future you've planned for yourself? Once you catch yourself dreaming of your little minimalist apartment and debating the name of the dog you know you have to get, you know you're in love.