What Does It Mean When You Say or Hear "I Love You"?

We've all experienced it I'm sure. It's that head rush, tummy flipping, can't wait see or speak to her/him, miss him/her when the latest get together is over, thinking about all those nice things (s) says or does, feeling that bursts forth with "I love you". But I think before we say it, we really need to consider a few things.

Once said, it can't really be taken back. You can't say "I love you" today and tomorrow say, "I really care about you" instead. An "I love you" changes everything - for better or for worse.

Ask yourself what you really mean when you say, "I love you". Do you mean, "I don't want to be with anyone else", "I'm only romantically interested in you", "I want to be in an exclusive relationship"? Or do you mean, "You make me feel good, but I still need to date others and need them to make me feel good as well"? Do you mean, "I admire you." Do you mean, "All my friends said you'd be a great catch"? Do you mean, "This feels good right now"?

Ask what the other person will hear when you say, "I love you". If you mean, "I really care about you and hope good things for you, and the sex is really good." and the other person hears, "Here is my heart. I trust you with it. You fill this emptiness I felt before you came along." there's going to be a whole lot of unnecessary (and probably unintended) hurt.

Maybe people should start talking about "what 'I love you' means to me" before they actually say it, the better to inform each other. What do you think?

For the very few people I have said that to, it means, I love being with you, I am completely crazy about you, there is no one on this earth I 'd rather be with, you are the one I want to fall asleep with, and the person I want to wake up to.

Saying I love you is a very big deal for me, I know I won't say it until I 'm 100% sure I really mean it. I also wont say it, until I know they feel the same love for me, as I do for them.
I always think before i say it, far too much probably!!

Anyway I think if you know someone well enough, I think you should already know what love means for them.