1. Your friends actually like him.
We’ve all dated that guy that our friends hate, but this time it’s different. Your friends like him, and he likes your friends. People get along. It’s weird.
2. He likes the things you like.
Whether it’s attending sporting events, yelling at reality television, singing the same songs in the car, you both like it, and you like doing those things together.
3. He supports you in the things that he doesn’t necessarily like.
Okay, maybe he thinks reality television is stupid, but he lets you watch it when he’s still over anyways.
4. He treats you with kindness and respect.
You never have to worry about the way he’s going to act towards you, because he’ll know that you deserve kindness and respect.
5. The past heartaches seem trivial.
Everything you’ve been through hurts so much less when it comes to mind. It seems like something that happened in a different lifetime.
6. That heartache actually makes sense.
Now you get why you had to go through the heartbreak.
7. He understands what you need.
Even if what you need is a back rub, or a Diet Coke, or a piece of cheesecake, he’s there with it ready to be with you.
8. He gets that you have bad days and takes care of you through them.
He cares for you unconditionally, even when your mood swings make you feel unlovable and even unlikable.
9. You have a mutual sense of trust.
Gone are the days when you worry about who he’s with when he’s not with you. You know you’re the only one for him.
10. He takes care of you.
Be it days with the flu, days of fights with your mom, or days of just plain “blah,” he knows and he is there to tell you everything will be okay.
11. You have fun together, and you can have fun doing anything.
The mundane regular activities are suddenly enjoyable. You can grocery shop, take long drives, and watch stupid movies together without it being boring.
12. The drama of relationships seems like a thing of the past.
You almost forget what it’s like to question how a boy feels about you. You don’t have to worry about him texting or calling you back, and you know that he’ll be mature in the face of conflict.
13. He wants you to be the best version of yourself and helps you be that person.
He knows who you want to be, and he wants you to be her.
14. The future is something you can really talk about.
It doesn’t have to be a full-fledged marriage conversation, but you can talk about long-distance over the summer, you can talk about next semester, and you can talk about ‘someday.’
15. You don’t have to question what you are. You know he’s yours.
No more, “Are we ‘talking’?” No more, “Is he seeing anyone else?” No more, “Is he all mine?” If he’s yours, he’ll tell you.
16. You don’t feel the need to know who he’s talking to.
He has other friends that are girls, and that’s okay with you. You don’t have to worry about them.
17. You don’t always feel the need to be right, and neither does he.
Fights don’t happen often, but when they do, they don’t seem insurmountable. They feel natural, and one of you always wants to make up.
18. Seeing each other always seems like a good thing.
You love just hanging out. You can spend down-time together and it doesn’t feel forced.
19. You’re willing to drop everything when he needs you and vice versa.
He may have a test tomorrow, but your dog just ran off and he’s suddenly driving down every street leading a search party. You matter to him.
20. You don’t just tolerate each other’s quirks, you actually kind of like them.
That snort when he laughs, the way you bite your lip when you think, or the way he taps his fingers when he’s frustrated? They’re suddenly endearing traits. Also, this is a Ted Mosby reference, and it’s a good one.
21. He’s willing to spend his time and money on and for you.
Lunch dates are a thing, and he never hesitates to stop you from paying or to spend hours just doting on you.
22. He qualms your fears.
On the days where life is scaring you, he’s there to hold your hand and reassure you that everything will be all right.
23. He makes you laugh.
He probably does stupid and weird things, but you adore those things and he can make you laugh even when all you want to do is punch him.
24. He doesn’t mind that you call him the right person.
He’s not afraid to be that person for you, and he knows you’re the right person for him as well.