Can You Fall In Love With Someone If You’re Sharing A Bubble?

Wednesday | January 13, 2021

Love Letters Dating

Can You Fall In Love With Someone If You’re Sharing A Bubble?

Start the new year by asking your own relationship/dating/love-in-2021 question. Email [email protected] or fill out this easy form.

Dear Meredith,

I’ve been seeing someone new for a few months and things are going wonderfully. We are both really into each other, and I’ve never been more compatible with someone in terms of what we both seek from relationships. We have been exclusive/official for two months, and it’s clear to me that this has real long-term potential. Generally, I am wondering when the right time is to tell a person you love them.

I feel myself on the edge of it, but I think I’ve said it too quickly in the past, so I’m trying to stay grounded. Like you’ve said in your responses to other letters, the pandemic sped up the “getting to know you” phase of dating and is really drawing out the hot sex and honeymoon feelings. However, we haven’t gotten to spend much time in each other’s social circles, so I’m reluctant to name my feelings too soon, before we’ve both seen each other more around other people. It’s hard to tell what’s “normal” when we are dating during such an unprecedented time. I’d appreciate any and all perspectives when it comes to using the L-word for the first time. Thanks so much, and happy new year.

– When to say

We’ve answered so many letters about “I love you.” They’re all different, of course.

Some are about knowing you love someone but feeling insecure about how and when to say it. Others are about thinking you know but not being sure, and then wondering if you should say it to get a sense of whether your significant other is feeling it too.

You feel love in the context of your bubble. That’s what you know, and that is wonderful. Enjoy it, and when you talk about those feelings, get specific. “I love what we’ve built and I can’t wait to enjoy a safer world with you.” “I’m so lucky that during this difficult time, I’ve found someone excellent for sharing hot sex and honeymoon feelings.”

Say whatever’s true.

It’s not that I want you to hold back because it’s too early. There’s no one right time for this, and as we all know, the words mean something different at four months than they do at five or 10 years. Right now, though, you don’t know how to label your feelings. That’s OK.

Forget normal. If you feel the need to share, say it like you did in your letter. It was very sweet.

– Meredith

Readers? Can a person be “in love” without seeing their significant other in the context of a non-pandemic world?

COVID and Relationships Dating Those Three Words