How To Say ‘I Love You’ Without Actually Saying It
Photo by Joanna Nix-Walkup on Unsplash
I love you: the three words that have the power to change a relationship wholly and completely. Telling our significant other we love him is one of the most lifegiving, significant, beautiful phrases we can utter. It means we’ve chosen him, we’re dedicated to him, we adore him.
But it’s equally meaningful to follow up these three life-changing words with actions; tangible ways we express our love, show him we want the best for him, and convey that he holds a special place in our hearts and minds. Our actions serve as a means to verify the words we say, making them feel all the more real and genuine.
So how can we tell him we love him without actually uttering the phrase?
01 | Send a sweet mid-day text.
Few things will put a smile on someone’s face faster than getting a thoughtful text they didn’t expect right in the middle of a busy, draining day. It doesn’t have to be lengthy or overly sentimental; just a simple, “Thinking of you. Hope your day is going well,” is enough to let him know he matters to us.
02 | Make his favorite dinner.
Not every dinner can be extra special; sometimes, we’re just trying to use whatever we have an excess of and need to use up, or need something quick and simple to throw together. But even if his favortie meal is just a bit more complicated, making a point of cooking it up once a week, or every other week, will mean the world to him.
03 | Offer him a back rub.
Anyone past the age of 25 could do with a weekly deep-tissue massage — alas, most of us can’t afford that from a professional masseuse! But we can offer that to him; watch a few YouTube videos detailing how to give a satisfying back rub, tell him we see how hard he’s been working, and offer a little back rub to help destress at the end of a long week.
04 | Surprise him with a date night.
Date nights are essential for relationships to maintain their spark, excitement, and connection. But we can’t always leave it up to him to organize such nights; surprise him with a date night that includes something he’ll love — maybe make reservations at his favorite restaurant, set up an activity he’s mentioned wanting to try, or wear his favorite dress of ours.
05 | Apologize first after an argument.
It’s only natural to get into tiffs and disagreements, some of them small, some of them weighty. But it’s also necessary that we make up and move forward — and in order to do so, it falls on one person to apologize first. Show him you care more about reestablishing connection than winning; reach out first after a fight to apologize and patch things up.
06 | Ask him how he’s doing & listen.
Most of us desperately need someone to ask how we’re doing — how we’re really doing — and listen, ask follow up questions, and show empathy. We all need a safe space to explore our thoughts and feelings. Be that place for him; ask him what’s been on his mind and engage in conversation with him, even if it’s difficult or uncomfortable.
07 | Say thank you.
However he shows us love, whether by offering us words of encouragement before a job interview, always taking out the trash, or surprising us with a weekend trip, make a point of acknowledging his ways of expressing love and thank him for all that he does.
08 | Get him a ‘just because’ gift.
We all love to be thought of, to have someone say, “This made me think of you!”. Show him he’s loved by presenting him with a ‘just because’ gift; it can be a pastry we saw at the store and knew he’d love for a special dessert, a book we came across that we thought he’d enjoy reading, or a shirt we thought he’d look handsome in.