What do the words “I love you” mean at every stage of the relationship?
Love is an endless journey that is far more important than the destination. And every step taken along the way changes us irrevocably …
Love is not a goal, to which it is enough to come just once, in order to rest on your laurels until the end of your days. No, rather, love is an endless journey, which is much more important than the destination. It offers forest trails, mountain passes, slippery slopes, and much more.
And every step taken on this path changes us irrevocably. That is why when you say: “I love you” for the first time, these words have a completely different meaning than the same words uttered a year after the start of the relationship (or even a month).
You spend a lot of time together, grow and develop together, find yourself in a variety of life situations, both personal and as a couple, and therefore the meaning of the phrase “I love you” develops along with your relationship.
There can be many little things and nuances in this phrase – the way you pronounce it (through tears or with a smile), where you do it (on a plane flying to some tropical country, or, say, in your common bed in the morning) or when (three months or three years after the start of the relationship). But one thing remains unchanged – love, which makes it pronounce over and over again.
And here’s what this phrase means at different stages of your relationship:
Three months after starting the relationship: “It’s fun / I love where our relationship is going.”
By the standards of a long-term relationship, three months is the very beginning of the journey. And when you say, “I love you,” at this stage in your relationship, it’s like saying you love this newness in your life — much like you love a brand new leather handbag you just bought.
Yes, you understand that soon it may go out of fashion, but you still think that it will remain in your wardrobe for a long time. But let’s be honest with ourselves: three months is such a short period that many temporary things in your life lasted even longer.
You are not yet sure if this relationship is exactly what you need. Maybe you said these words by accident, or because it seemed that the situation required it. And yes, perhaps this love still does not feel like love for the people who have been in your life, as long as you can remember, but it still seems wonderful and special.
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