I love (the idea of) you.

Social media has given us this opening into the life of individuals to create an idea of a person before we even meet them. Although I feel it is well within our human nature to draw conclusions of who we believe someone is (probably some kind of survival mechanism), the only way the idea of the person matches up to the reality of the person is when both viewer and subject are vulnerable enough to share who they are and what they want and need. 

Often times we fall in love with this idea of who this person is, and reality comes crashing in when we realize they are deeper than the shallow personification of what they put on the World Wide Web.

It is this realization that has brought me to where I am now: It takes time to truly know someone. 

When looking for your partner, ask yourself:

Is growth my priority? If not, can I make it so? (If yes…)

Am I willing to be vulnerable and work on that physical and emotional connection? (If yes…)

Do I like who they really are, not who I think they are or want them to be? (If yes…)

Then tell them.