Don’t say it just because you think its “expected”.

Don’t say it just to fill in an awkward silence.

Don’t say it just because you want me to say it back.

Don’t say it just because I just said it.

Don’t say it just to make me happy.

Say it if you feel the butterflies in your stomach, sparks in your heart.

Because if you toss the words around like they’ve got no meaning…then when you do mean it, no one will be able to interpret your true meaning. Like, if you habitually tell me “I love you” when we’re nothing more than ordinary friends, then I won’t associate those words with any strong feelings, and they’ll become three meaningless words coming from your mouth.

And for the guys that actually mean it each time they say “I love you”, I respect you guys immensely, keep doing what you do. Don’t feel like you should say it more because your girlfriends in the past have told you that they don’t think you love them simply because you don’t flood them with “I love you”s. I think it’s great you guys place value on those words. The rarer something is, the more precious.