“You’re going to come across people in your life who will say all the right things at all the right times. But in the end, it’s always your actions you should judge them by. It’s actions, not words, that matter.”

-Nicholas Sparks

Yes, the author of the above quote is the same man who has written a dozen sappy novels including The Notebook, and yet, it’s the truth regardless of who penned the sentences. Actions do speak louder than words. You can say “I love you” until you’re blue in the face, but it’s how you treat the person to whom you’re saying it that truly matters.  If you are not respectful, compassionate, and affectionate of the person you are saying “I love you” to, then you are not acting like a loving person.

Showing appreciation, expressing excitement or empathy for what is going on in your partner’s life, interlacing your fingers with theirs when they least expect it, buying them their favorite treat when you’re at the grocery store, or whatever else is meaningful to them —  just make the effort to express how you feel throughout the day in your behavior and attitude.