This past week, my boyfriend and I celebrated two years together. So this week I've been thinking a lot about where we started and how we got here. In the past, I didn't have such great luck with guys. Then this kid came along, and sometimes made me feel just a bit more sane. Two years later and I've found myself growing more and more. So here are just a few things I've learned about love in the two years I've watched it grow in him and I:

1. Love not instant like in the movies.

Sure, the first time I saw him I thought he was cute, but I'm going to be honest: the first month or so I knew him I wanted to strangle him. He'd throw skittles at my head in the study lounge, play his music super loud, and not to mention he was just a complete ass at some points. While now I see those things and either roll my eyes or play along, it wasn't always like that.

2. Love is trying things again.

Whether it's to prove a point or just to see if you've changed, love makes you want to redo something's you might have already decided you didn't like. Like going through caverns in a boat with only one way out, or eating lemon cookies even though you thoroughly are sure you hate lemon in almost every form except lemonade. Sometimes you don't know why you tried, but other times you know you did it just to see if you could make them happy.

3. Love is waiting.

Whether it's waiting to see them, or waiting for them to realize it too, love is taking a step back and remembering if it's right it'll happen and keep happening for a very long time.

4. Love is Jealousy.

No matter who you are or how strong your relationship is, cheating is so ingrained into our society now that our first assumption is that someone is being unfaithful. Unfortunately, sometimes it's true, and that's how we know our love is one sided. But if you're like me, you've probably sat there and convinced yourself some days that the person you're with has to be cheating when really all they're doing is sitting in their room playing video games or watching Netflix.

5. Love is taken advantage of.

Some people say that the word love has lost it's meaning because of how flimsy us "kids" use it. I think it's lost its power due to the fact that so many people abuse those who love them and take advantage of the fact that they feel so deeply about them. As my boyfriend said just the other day, "What makes love special is that both individuals feel it, yet true love is when both people feel the same level of love."

6. Love is learning.

Never have I heard anyone say that love is easy. You have to learn about the good and the bad of someone to really know if your love is superficial or not. Like the way they brush their teeth, or how they put ketchup on their Mac 'n Cheese. The things that make you want to stab them just a little can still annoy you, just as long as you learn to accept them. It's also about learning about yourself, and how to know when to put them first and when to put you first. You know it's true love when you never stop learning because of it.

Love isn't the flames from a white, hot fire, but the embers burning underneath; not making for a beautiful picture necessarily, but keeping the essence of the heat. Knowing what love is supposed to feel like now, I'm so glad I went through the pain of not knowing. Two years ago I didn't think we'd have made it this far or think that I would have learned this much, but I'm so glad I did.