what does love look like?

When we talk about love, are we talking about the kind we see in movies that is over-exaggerated and overrated? The kind of love where women expect men to spontaneously purchase plane tickets and fly across the country to see her because the thought of being without each other another minute is too much to bear? My question is, how does anyone know they are in love? I even Googled the definition of love (an intense feeling of deep affection) to help me wrap my head around it.

"I love you."
"I feel intensely affectionate for you too."

Socially, how long should a couple wait before it's acceptable to express these intense affections they are feeling? Two weeks? A month? And more importantly, if too much time has passed and you realize you still don't love them, when is it expected that the relationship should come to an end?

I asked my best friend how she knew she loved her boyfriend. I think this question baffled her.

I also think that people often confuse love for infatuation. And they convey to their partner that they love them based on social pressure without having a full understanding of how they feel and then it gets messy. Now, a husband and wife of 50 years love each other (probably). But what's with people falling out of love? How do you have an entire life with someone and then wake up one morning and realized you made the wrong choice, oops?

Love is a serious thing. Love prevents people from taking their dream jobs. Love enforces the idea that you should accept your partner's flaws and love them for who they are.

But I think they also call that settling.