Hello Love! - How to Tell Someone You Love Them Endlessly - a little dose of happy - aldohappy.com Blog
Relationships | Happiness

Hello Love! – How to Tell Someone You Love Them Endlessly

Saying those all-important three words, “I love you,” for the first time in a relationship is a showstopper. Emotional. Vulnerable. A big deal. But what then? Years pass. Love grows. How do we keep expressing it? After a million shared moments, how do we tell our partner they’re still the one?

While the excitement of the first date or the first “I love you” may wear off with time, the love itself doesn’t. It gets deeper, evolves, and finds new ways to express itself. The secret to an enduring spark? Regularly infusing your long-term relationship with love and appreciation.

If your love is as strong as ever, but you’re running out of ways to show it, this article is for you. We’ll share fresh, meaningful ideas on how to tell someone you love them, even after years together.

All About Love

To understand how to nurture lasting love, it helps to first look at the science behind love’s effect on the brain.

man kissing woman on head

Love and Happiness

Science has revealed how love alters our brains and releases chemicals that make us feel good.

The Dopamine High of Romantic Attraction

That giddy rush of a new crush or romance? You can thank dopamine, the “feel-good” neurotransmitter. The honeymoon phase is a period of intense emotions and hormonal influence. In early relationships, dopamine floods the neural pathways of pleasure, motivation, and focus when we’re with our romantic interest. We’re on a natural high just being with them.

No wonder new love has us listening to sappy love songs (our top picks: “Truly Madly Deeply” by Savage Garden, “Lucky” by Jason Mraz featuring Colbie Caillat, and “I Do Adore” by Mindy Gledhill), constantly daydreaming about the one who makes our heart skip a beat!

Oxytocin: The Cuddle Hormone

Oxytocin promotes bonding, trust, and intimacy in established romantic connections. This hormone surges during affectionate and intimate moments, with physical touch being a key love language that triggers oxytocin release. As a result, we feel close to our partner.

Just looking at each other across the room releases oxytocin. No wonder little gestures like hugs, hand-holding, and sweet texts keep established relationships going! We instinctively crave activities that keep oxytocin flowing.

couple hugging

Love, The Natural Stress Reliever

Romantic attachments also protect our brains from stress. Relationship problems or being apart from our partner can increase anxiety. But when everything is good, our partner’s presence reduces cortisol, the stress hormone.

Science confirms what we already know – love makes us happy!

The Benefits of Love

Beyond the positive effects on the brain, research shows loving relationships benefit us in many ways:

Emotional Stability

A romantic partner’s support, understanding, and comfort help us achieve emotional balance and recover from negative moods faster. Love is stabilizing.

Reduced Loneliness

Humans need connection. Romantic relationships meet this basic need and buffer us against isolation or feeling ostracized. Love is belonging.

Support Through Hardships

In times of crisis, partners can provide practical and emotional support to help each other cope, from job loss to illness and beyond. Love is supportive.

couple with noses touching

Motivation Boost

Loved ones propel us forward. Partners encourage each other’s growth, helping each other achieve their hopes and dreams. Love is motivational.

Expanded Social Circles

Romantic relationships give us access to our partner’s social network and other couples with similar interests. Love expands our sense of community. Love is socially elevating.

Nurturing Devotion

While new relationships are thrilling, true happiness often comes from nurturing devotion – an active, long-term commitment to ride the ups and downs of life together. Devotion is the foundation of a healthy, long-lasting partnership.

Devotion means making conscious choices to prioritize your partner through little and big acts of love. It means keeping their needs and wants at the top of your mind.

Devotion means putting in daily effort to cultivate intimacy through touch and thoughtful gestures. It’s providing emotional and practical support through tough times. It’s celebrating milestones and successes together.

couple looking at each other

Devotion is intentionally cultivating a relationship that can go the distance by developing trust, communication, compromise, and growth.

Two powerful ways to nurture devotion in a relationship are through meaningful words and thoughtful actions. Both verbal and non-verbal expressions of love reinforce your bond when done with intention and care.

Choosing Your Words Wisely

While nothing beats a heartfelt “I love you,” crafting personal messages, putting your feelings into words, or speaking from the heart reminds your partner they are loved on a deeper level.

Here’s how to tell someone you love them with words:

1. Compliment Their Character

Tell them what you love about who they are – their sense of humor, compassion, creativity, determination, etc. Make it specific. “I love how passionate you are when you talk about physics and how good you are at explaining the concepts to me in a way I can understand.

2. Appreciate Their Actions

Note the everyday ways they make you feel loved, like supporting your career, making you laugh, or listening to you when you have something on your mind. Show appreciation for the small things they do, like watering the plants, washing the dishes, and cooking dinner.

Gratitude nurtures love. “Thank you for all the times you care for our home so I can focus on my project.

3. Share a Cherished Memory

Reminisce over favorite vacations, concerts, hiking adventures, etc. Revisiting happy memories deepens bonds. “Remember when we met, and I was utterly lost, and you directed me where to go? I was so happy to see you again afterward!

4. Express Your Feelings

Tell them how much they mean to you and the place they occupy in your heart and life.

  • “You’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever met. Your compassion and kindness inspire me every day.”
  • “You’re the first person I go to whenever I need help.“
  • “You always make me smile no matter how I’m feeling.” 
  • “I know I can get through anything with your love and support.“
woman laying on man on float

5. Declare Your Love

Promise your unwavering commitment, devotion, and adoration—a renewal of love. Those eight letters, “I love you,”carry immense power, especially when followed by heartfelt declarations like these:

  • “I love you more with every passing year.”
  • I don’t know how it’s possible, but I love you more every day.
  • I promise to keep choosing you every single day.
  • You’re my best friend. I’m so grateful I get to spend the rest of my life with you.

Expressing Love Through Action and Affection

Remember those cute surprises in your early days? They might fade. Daily routines take over. But here’s the thing: actions trump words. Always. The simplest gestures? They’re love’s loudest voice. Spend quality time together, stay physically close, and connect emotionally. These are your tools. Use them to keep your bond strong, vibrant, and alive.

Intimacy thrives when partners express love not just in words but through thoughtful actions and affection. Here are some tips:

1. Be Fully Present

Give your partner your undivided attention. Put your phone down, turn off the TV, and focus on them.

2. Actively Listen

Ask open-ended questions. Listen without interrupting or judging. Make them feel heard.

3. Admit When You Are Wrong

Take accountability for your mistakes. Own up to being wrong to deepen respect and understanding.

4. Get to Know Them Better

Learn about their inner world – goals, challenges, dreams. Strive to understand them on an ever-deeper level. Be supportive.

5. Maintain Non-Sexual Affection

Kiss, hug, cuddle, hold hands, massage, and send flirty glances. Maintain physical closeness. 

6. Surprise Them With Compliments

Sincerely compliment their appearance, achievements, and positive qualities. Intentionally make them feel good with genuine praise. It takes just a few seconds to offer a genuine compliment, but it can boost your partner’s mood for hours.

7. Give Them Something Meaningful

Gift flowers to brighten their day. Make them a scrapbook of happy memories. Buy them the world’s softest t-shirts so they can comfortably work from home. Thoughtful surprises are always welcome!

man gifting flowers to a woman

8. Perform an Act of Service

Take tasks off their plate like grocery shopping, cooking dinner, or paying the bills, especially when they’re busy or stressed. Offer your time and energy. 

9. Enjoy Shared Interests

Engage in hobbies you both enjoy, like hiking, cooking, gardening, and watching late-night comedy. Do things together!

Creating Meaningful Moments

While giving gifts, performing acts of service, and maintaining physical affection are the foundation of showing love, creating personal, meaningful moments can take expressions of love to the next level. The key is to inject romance into the ordinary.

Here are some ideas for creating special memories that reinforce your unique bond:

1. Morning and Evening Touchpoints

Say “I love you” in the morning and make it the last thing you say (with a good night kiss!) before bed—a simple ritual to anchor your relationship.

2. Shared Meals

Cook favorite recipes together, talk over long dinners, and sample each other’s signature dishes. When dining out, order different meals that interest you both so you can share.

a couple cooking together

3. Love Notes

Leave sticky notes with loving words on the bathroom mirror or tuck one in their wallet. If verbal declarations of love seem intimidating, a love letter is a great alternative to express how you feel. Leave a note for them to find when they’re away for an extended period. Surprise love letters keep romance alive!

Try writing a romantic poem for them (here’s one in the form of a haiku 🤓):

“You’re my best friend. I love you so very much. You’re all that matters.”

4. Sweet Texts

Send an “I’m thinking of you” text during their workday. Random digital love (including heart eyes 😍 and blowing kisses 😘! or even a single love word like ‘adored’ or ‘cherished’) can brighten their day.

Try one of these: 

  • “Just wanted to let you know I feel connected to you even when we’re apart.”
  • “I adore you in the same way as when we first met.”
  • “How did I get so lucky to have you in my life?”
  • “Nothing beats coming home to your smile.”
  • “My heart is yours, always and completely.”
  • “Counting down the minutes until we’re together again!”

5. Bedtime Cuddling

Fall asleep in each other’s arms or enjoying pillow talk. Wake up a bit earlier than you need to so you can linger before getting out of bed in the morning. Every moment in bed is precious.

a couple laying in bed laughing

Planning Surprises

Creating meaningful moments in everyday life is a beautiful way to nurture love. Planning special surprises can add even more excitement and romance! 

While creating meaningful moments requires intention, planning surprises requires creativity and stealth! Surprising your partner randomly may be a bad idea – you want the surprise to delight them, not startle or overwhelm them. But with thoughtful planning and consideration of their schedule and interests, a special surprise can be worth the extra effort to see their eyes light up with joy.

Here are some ideas for planning romantic surprises to bring you closer and create lasting memories:

1. Weekend Getaways

Escape to a cozy cabin or quaint bed and breakfast together. Explore somewhere new.

2. Recreate Your First Date

Return to the location or activities from that memorable night. Fondly reminisce.

3. Adventure Dates

Do something out of the ordinary, like salsa dancing, improv classes, or couples’ zip lining. Get playful!

4. Scavenger Hunt

Leave notes for them to follow to favorite places with good memories. End with a romantic picnic or dinner.

5. Vacation Surprises

Book flights for a destination on their bucket list. Whisk them away when they least expect it.

couple holding hands

Yes, the sky’s the limit here! You can plan any fun and romantic surprise to treat your partner to a surprise. The great thing is your loved one will be touched by the thoughtfulness and love behind any special gesture you create for them.

And who knows, maybe one day you’ll be pleasantly surprised by something when you least expect it. (Just be careful about who you share the idea with so they don’t accidentally surprise your loved one too early!) The beauty of relationships is continuously finding new ways to make each other feel loved. 🥰

Final Thoughts

In a world that often romanticizes the start of relationships, let’s celebrate the middle, the journey, and the everyday moments because every day with love is an exciting milestone. Every day is an opportunity to say “Hello Love!” anew. Whether it’s writing a love poem, revisiting your love song playlist, having an impromptu dance filled with twirls, or laughing hysterically for no reason at all, true love finds a way to express itself daily.

The journey of love is about being open to adventure, getting creative. and cherishing those small, meaningful moments along the way. Keep exploring ideas to surprise your partner, make time for playfulness, and fan the flame that brought you together.

We hope these ideas help you fill your relationship with playful love and mutual adoration. Say “I love you” a thousand times over. Stay open, listen closely, and get creative in how you connect—the spark between you can light the way for a decade or more when you nurture it together.

happy couple with the woman laying her head on her man's shoulder

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