Jelena Dincic
Look, it’s not easy for everyone to express how they feel. Some people are more reserved when it comes to talking about their feelings, especially guys.
So, how can you tell if the person you’re going out with really cares about you?
By looking out for the signs!
Sometimes actions speak louder than words and there are certain things that people do that show they genuinely care.
Let’s take a look:
1) They take an active interest in your life
Now, one of the first things to look for when figuring out if someone genuinely cares about you is whether they’re interested in you.
What exactly do I mean by that?
I mean that they take an interest in your life outside of the time you spend together. Here are some examples:
- They want to know about your job – how that project is going; whether you’ve resolved the issue with your coworker; or what your crazy boss is up to.
- They want to know about the stuff you do in your free time: “How was choir practice?”, “So, are you gonna go on that hike with your friends?”
- They ask about your family and how they’re doing.
- And if something is going on, they’ll keep checking in to see how things are progressing. Like if you had to take your dog to the vet, they’ll want a full update.
2) They’re protective
They may not be able to come out and say, “I love you”, but they’ll show it in other ways.
When someone genuinely cares about you, they’re usually super protective of you so good luck to anyone who crosses you!
If they feel like you’re being threatened, mistreated, or talked about negatively, they’re ready to fight the “bad guys” and defend your honor.
In fact, you’ve probably had to tell them more than once to stop because you’ve “got this”.
3) They’re always there for you
So, some people may say they care about you, but when you really need them, where are they?
Too busy. It’s not a good time. If only they could…
But no matter what they’ve got going on, you know that your partner would drop everything in a second if you needed them.
Do you know what that means?
It means that they really, truly, and genuinely care about you, that’s what!
4) They appreciate you
What exactly does it mean to be appreciated by your partner?
It means that they’re grateful for everything you do for them and they don’t take you for granted. Like if you cook for them or do things for them, they’ll actually notice and say “thank you”. And because they appreciate you, they’ll want to reciprocate and do something nice for you.
More than that, it means that they really see you and all your qualities – whether they’re inherent (your beautiful singing voice) or stuff you learned (your mad chess skills).
They appreciate the different aspects of your personality, the things that make you – you. Trust me, it’s nice to be seen and appreciated.
5) They respect your boundaries
I don’t know why people stay in a relationship with partners who don’t respect their boundaries.
Here’s the thing: If someone ignores your boundaries it means that they don’t respect you, and when someone doesn’t respect you, chances are they don’t really care about you.
So if your partner knows the importance of boundaries and would never dream of crossing them, you know you’ve got a keeper.
6) They’re your teammate
A successful romantic relationship is a happy and healthy one and that means that it needs to be a true partnership.
Ask yourself, are you and your partner teammates?
- Do you trust each other?
- Is there mutual respect and open communication between you?
- What about important decisions, do you make them together?
7) They go out of their way for you
If your partner goes above and beyond to make you happy, it’s another sign that they genuinely care for you.
For example, maybe you have a cat they’re allergic to. So, Do they avoid coming over to your place?
No.
Actually, they keep taking antihistamines so they can be around you every chance they get!
Or, they’ll stay up all night helping you prepare for an important interview or presentation.
Whatever it is, if they’re going out of their way for you, it’s because you mean a lot to them.
8) They smile when you walk into the room
You know that feeling you get when you’re in love and you see the object of your affection? How suddenly everything feels lighter? You forget the world around you and for a second, there’s just you and them.
And then you smile…
Well, it works both ways. If your partner smiles when you walk in the room, it means that just being in your presence brightens up their day!
9) They like to surprise you
Another way to tell your partner really cares about you is by what they do for you.
From getting your favorite pastries to planning weekend getaways, if your partner loves to surprise you with little and big things you like, you can be sure about how they feel.
Take my hubby for instance. He knows that I love these pecan pastries so he kept buying them for me on his way back home from work. I had to tell him to stop because I was going to get fat!
10) They like to check in with you
Turns out that sometimes, what happens when you’re not together is almost as important as when you are together.
For example, if you’re at work and your partner sends you texts to see how you’re doing or calls you on your lunch break to hear your voice, it’s because they miss you and are thinking of you.
What that means is that you don’t just disappear from their thoughts when you’re not around.
They’re always thinking about you and they like to know what you’re up to because, yes, they genuinely care about you.
11) They’re a little bit jealous
I’m not talking about anything major because full-on jealousy can get quite ugly.
But a little dose of jealousy is healthy I think.
Like maybe the waiter or waitress will flirt with you and your partner will notice and say something like, “Looks like you’ve got an admirer.”
It’s pretty innocent but pretty clear that they’ve got their eyes open for any potential threats coming their way.
I find it sweet, don’t you?
12) They remember the little things
It could be anything really, like remembering how you take your coffee to something you told them about your childhood in passing.
Whatever it is, if the person you’re with remembers seemingly insignificant things you said or did, it’s because they’re paying very close attention to you.
And why do you think that is?
Go on, take a guess!
13) They make an effort with your friends and family
Your family and friends are the people closest to you and ideally, you’d want the person you’re dating to get along with them, right?
So when you see that your partner is making an effort with friends and family, you can be sure it’s because they care about you and want to be part of your inner circle.
14) They make compromises
Look, it’s not always easy to make compromises.
You have to be willing to let go of something you want or how you imagined things to be.
But when you do it for someone important, someone you love, well then, it’s that much easier to do.
15) They accept you as you are
Caring about someone means accepting them as they are, imperfections and all.
If you’re going out with someone who is constantly negatively comparing you to other people – such as their exes – and telling you how you could change this and improve that about yourself, you should dump their a**.
I mean, it’s one thing to support you and help you grow as a person, but quite another to make you feel bad and want to change who you are.
However, when you’re with someone who genuinely cares about you, they’ll take you as you are.
16) They take an interest in your hobbies
The thing is that we don’t always go out with people who are like us and who we have everything in common with.
But that’s okay, it doesn’t mean it’s impossible to have a happily ever after.
The key here is to take an interest in what the other person enjoys doing, such as their various hobbies.
Now, it may not always be your cup of tea, but the fact that you’re making an effort is what counts.
And if that’s what your partner is doing, you can be sure it’s because they care.
17) They bring up your joint future
When someone doesn’t genuinely care about you and you’re just another person they’re dating, they’re not gonna see a future with you. In fact, they’ll be thinking about the person they’ll be going out with after you.
That means that if your partner keeps bringing up the future and it involves you, it’s another sign that they genuinely care about you.
It can be anything from planning a weekend getaway with you next month to planning to spend the Christmas holidays with you.
Final thoughts
And there you have it, I hope this list has put your mind at ease and you know that even though they may not say it, your partner really does care about you.
Now just relax, enjoy yourself, and see where your relationship goes.
