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I'll start by blowing you all kisses of love just because it's the season. Hehe. These are very deserving questions by 
1锔忊儯 How do you know when you are in love? What are the signs?
When you are in love, you have butterflies in your tummy and dreamy eyes all day. Hehe. Squash that.
I like to think I'm in love. Heck, I'm in love and let me tell you how I know that.
I think besides the fundamental basis of the feel-good experience, love can be relatively different for everyone one of us but perhaps we can all agree that being in love is a beautiful feeling. It doesn't hurt and it doesn't drain the life out of you.
We cannot possibly create a mirage that being in love is the feeling of being enclosed in a big heart-shaped bubble all day and night. We know that sometimes there are the not so good times. However, those unstable moments are the moments that strengthen the foundation of love. They create clarity, stability, and a better understanding of the essence of love.
So I believe that being in love is like an elixir of sour sprinkle, a drop of bitter, and a whole lot of sweetness. I can even taste it. Aww. It is hitting the right spot. Hehe!
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The first signs of being in love are affection and tenderness toward the other person. It is feeling at its raw that needs nurturing. You want to see them always. Hold them, talk to them, and just be in their company. The fact is, you want to have them all to yourself.
You know you are in love when you start asking them if they've eaten five times a day. Lol
Soon your love grows and you begin to nurture it. I'm at a place where I know that my partner has got me just as I've got him. We are happy, growing, and striving. We are doing life together. We eat, laugh, cry, and pray together. We share hopes, dreams, and aspirations. We scold and support each other with tenderness and encouragement. For me, that's love and I want to grow old like that.
饾悁饾悕饾悆 / 饾悗饾悜 ~
2锔忊儯 Does love come on suddenly or grow over time? What are your keys
to ensure your relationship remains strong and healthy?
I think for many, love can come on suddenly but for people like me, love grows over time. We do not get struck in the head with a love card and suddenly start feeling dreamy with heart-shaped eyes Hehe. Like a newborn, it starts as something very cute and beautiful. Then over time, nurturing strengthens it. It blossoms, evolves, and then soars like a butterfly.
To ensure my relationship stays strong and healthy, I practice affirmation, gratitude, and reassurance.
Every day we remind ourselves of the origin - The reason we fell in love and decided to be together.
Love doesn't appreciate all by itself. You have to do the intentional work to keep it sweet, healthy, and vibrant. Whether it is the occasional praises, kisses and hugs, gifts, and generally any show of affection, the little things matter.
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Lastly, love isn't enough. Yes, it isn't. A healthy dose of patience, tolerance, and understanding is very important. I learned these along the way and I'm not going to let them go. There are days when you need the patience to just listen and understand much more than you love and that's okay.
In all of these, I hope you learn to love yourself first.
Love and Light.