Dear Michelle:

You want to be true to yourself, to express your love with words, to be verbally expressive- why not do just that, express your love with words, authentically, honestly,  genuinely.. just don’t say these words: I love you. These three words  mean different things to different people. Some  women say it and mean: I said it, now you say it! Or they mean: ask me to marry me now, or next month! Some men say it and mean: have sex with me.. now that I said it. Some men hear it and think: oh,  oh, I’m in trouble now.

So tell him how you love him, not that you love him. Tell him what it means to you without using the word. Later on, when he knows the how, you can tell him I love you, and he will know what you mean by it.

anita