It's easy to fall in love when you're young or even at any age. It's easy to be blind to negative things that your partner does because you're crazy about them. It's easy to make excuses for the people you love when they don't treat you well because you want to see the best in them and you want everyone else to see the incredible person you are. But don't let someone treat you poorly because they tell you they love you - they have to do more than just tell you.

Respect has to go both ways. When you love someone, you want the absolute best for them, and they should want the best for you. When you're in a situation where you're constantly putting him first and making sacrifices for his happiness and doing everything for him, that's okay. And I say that's okay because relationships are hard and everyone goes through hard times. However, when things start to get bad for you, does he return the favor? Does he then put you first and make sure you're getting what you need to be happy? If the answer if yes, absolutely, and he doesn't hesitate to make you happy and adjust and make sacrifices for you then you found yourself a winner.

But if he does hesitate, and he does try to make it about him again or he can't deal with your downs and makes you feel like you can't ever be down - he doesn't love you. He's only using you to boost himself up. He's relying on you for his own happiness and when he can't find that happiness, you're to blame. He shouldn't be blaming you for being upset or depressed or feeling down. He shouldn't put that on you to always make him feel better because he has to start doing it for himself as well. He needs to try to make himself feel better and not give you that responsibility. When he starts trying, and when he in turn can support you like you support him, then you know he cares.

Your guy shouldn't be giving you stipulations to be with him. He shouldn't be telling you where to live, how to dress, where to work, what you can do on the weekends or anything. He shouldn't be telling you that he'll leave you if you go out for a night or he'll find someone better when you threaten to leave because you don't fee loved. He shouldn't put that stress on you because you should be enough and let me tell you: you are enough. And if he doesn't see that, don't just leave, freaking run. And run towards your happiness and self worth because you don't need someone who puts you in a box.

He shouldn't tell you you would be prettier if you wore a brand of clothes or changed your hair. He shouldn't give you attention when your make up is done perfectly or when you wear something tight. He shouldn't make you feel like you need to be dressed to impress every time he sees you because he should love you in every state. Life isn't always fake eye lashes and perfect hair and skin tight clothes. In 20 or 30 years, do you think he'll still tell you your beautiful? Do you think he'll make you feel young and gorgeous by telling you that when you're in sweats with no make up, that's when you're prettiest? Because if he does, then he's worth giving your time and heart to. He can love you when you're all dressed up, but he should also love you when you have nothing special on. That's true beauty.

Make sure your guy treats you right. He doesn't need to be perfect. He'll drive you crazy and the truth is, you'll both mess up along the way. But when you have someone who supports you and lifts you up, you'll realize you have the world. You'll realize you have found love and that you never want to let it go. Don't let it go. It's worth hanging on to.