Love is many things... but it is also not many things.

Love is communication. 

It is openly talking to the other person and being on the same page; 

not fighting for words to speak hoping that they might hear you. 

Love is not a thank you.

Do not thank someone with an "I Love You."

If you don't know the person well enough, you shouldn't be saying it. 

Love is not what you see on TV and in movies. 

It is not a shiny crystal ball of "future promises."

It is more than a screen.

Love is hard.

It is a fight sometimes. 

But make sure you're fighting for love and not for the perception of it.

Love is not just hearing a love song and thinking of the one person on your mind. 

It is not just because you can't get them out of your mind or heart.

It is infatuation, lust, a crush... anything but love. 

Love is happiness. 

There is pain, yes. 

But the happiness should balance and outbalance the pain.

If you're wracking your brain every other day wondering whether the other person cares about you,

thinking of reasons why it's your fault you can't please them, 

crying yourself to make the pain go away,

that is not love. 

Love is not anxiety.

When love is concerned, you never have to worry that you're bothering the other person.

Love is not comfortable. 

It might be safe loving a certain person just because it's easier. 

But it shouldn't be easy. 

Love is not a compromise.

It is not meeting in the middle, scratching out flaws in order to "deal with" each other. 

Love is balance. 

It's knowing the other person loves you back and feels the same way. 

It's not sitting around, hoping that one day they might see you in a new light.

Finally,

love is commitment. 

You can't love if you're not committed to love that person no matter the circumstance.

You can't love unless you've accepted them for who they are and who they will be. 

And honestly, you can't love until you love yourself.

Because unless you love yourself, you will never value yourself and differentiate healthy relationships between toxic ones. 

#BecauseILoveYou should mean all of the above. It means so much more than a three-letter word. 

But most of all, love should be happiness. 

I love you because no matter what situation, you make me happy.

You make me feel like no matter the situation, everything will be okay.

And even if we're not okay right now, we're still in this together.

Through obstacles and anger, you're still there.

That's why I Love You.