Being an avid lover of fashion, cute animals, and anything food-related, it’s no surprise that I waste more time than I care to admit scrolling aimlessly through Pinterest. It doesn’t matter if I’m at the gym, on a road trip, in the bathtub, or laying down in bed about to fall asleep -- the opportunities to scroll through the multiple boards are about as endless as the DIY projects and the workout plans.

One night a few weeks ago, I scrolled through my feed to find one of those sappy love quotes -- the kind stating something to the effect of, "You deserve a man who loves you when you have on no makeup, no cameras around blah blah blah." I kept scrolling (this is exactly why I can’t give you the exact quote), but I couldn’t help but keep thinking about that picture. I laughed at first, thinking the next time my boyfriend came over to hang out that I’d purposely take off all my makeup, put on my most worn-in baggy pajamas (since those are the most comfy ones), have my hair up in a messy bun that closely resembled a bird’s nest, and I’d even put my retainer in. If he didn’t turn around when I opened the door, then I’d know he was a keeper, right?

Wrong. The reality is that when I opened the door, we’d probably both start laughing. He’d probably ask me what the heck had happened, and I’d go into my long rant about how exhausted I was. The fact was that I don’t have to go to these extreme lengths to find out if he’s a keeper- I already know.

As I thought back to that picture, I couldn’t help but think of how wrong it was. Sadly, I think it’s simple, innocent sayings like those that give people an unrealistic and distorted image of what a relationship is- what love should look like. It’s unrealistic and distorted because there is no specific picture of what love should look like. It’s different for everyone. The way one person loves you can and will be different from the next person. If not, then the love wouldn’t be special.

We shouldn’t compare ourselves to the relationships we see online, or base what we think we deserve on other people's opinions. Otherwise, we will set unrealistic expectations. What everyone deserves is different, just like what everyone wants and looks for in a relationship is different.

So to my person…

Thank you for loving me the same whether I am in my favorite comfy pj’s with wet hair and no makeup on, or hair curled, make up done and all dressed up in the new outfit I’ve been waiting to wear on date night.

Thank you for putting up with me when I’m "hangry" and for dealing with me when I’m just being my emotional self.

Thank you for never being more than a phone call or a text away, or a trip to get ice cream on the especially bad days.

Thank you for challenging me more than anyone else I know, and teaching me so much about myself while doing so.

Thank you for having my order from Chick-fil-A and Sonic memorized. You know how important this is.

Thank you for never being honest that my singing is horrible, but instead singing right along with me. Especially when "Work" comes on.

Thank you for never letting me get too caught up in everything going on, but encouraging me to calm down and enjoy the current moment.

Thank you for showing me that a relationship isn't about what gets posted on social media every single time we're together, but is validated by the time spent together, even if only the two of us see it.

Thank you for always laughing with me, and even sometimes at me.

Thank you for never letting me run- from you when the going gets tough, from my problems, or from what scares me.

Thank you for being my partner-in-crime, and my right-hand go-to. Unless it's to go on a shopping trip of course!

Thank you for showing me what it means to fight for something, how to wait until the timing is right, and how to truly grow with someone. It hasn't always been easy for us, but it's always been worth it.

Thank you for always loving me for who I am, even when it's hard for me to love myself.

Thank you for being #goals, and for always wanting to make our story different from the rest.

And most of all, thank you for loving me the way I deserve to be loved, the way I want to be loved, and mostly, the way I need to be loved- in your own special way.

ily x a millie, moon & back