“That sounds exciting. I’m so happy for you. But how do you know he’s the one?” I was on a FaceTime call with a friend from Melbourne, telling her about how J and I had been getting along in our long-distance romance.

J is currently in Qatar­ – I’m currently in Brisbane. Long-distance romance made that much trickier by the ever-evolving Covid-19 pandemic.

I try to explain, but it’s hard to convey exactly what it’s like.

A whirlwind romance before J headed off overseas for work was intense but brief.

But from the moment J asked, “Can I kiss you?”, while on our first second official date at the local gin bar, there was … electricity. Something special.

Of course, I tried playing it cool at first, making him “wait” … the whole bit.

But, let’s be honest, I instantly knew this was something extraordinary the moment we met.

I knew we were meant to be.

“Well, if you play your cards right … we’ll see,” I had said to J that time he met me at the airport in December last year, as I was jetting off to Melbourne for the Christmas holidays.

Insert an I’m-trying-to-be-sexy-and-cool *wink*.

Fast forward eight months, and I’ve found the one.

J is my one.

Allow me to elaborate.

After spending the large part of my 20s and early 30s going through my fair share of sh*t on the dating/relationship front, I am absolutely, head over heels, in love.

And what’s more astounding … J loves me back.

We both share similar values – we both know what we want.

Mainly, each other. Right. Now.

God, long distance can be FRUSTRATING at times 😉 We are definitely making “it” work, … but really, I miss physical touch. So much.

It is love.

True love.

So, how do I know that I’ve found “the one”?

While sure, as President Theodore Roosevelt once said: “Comparison is the thief of joy”, taking stock and thinking about previous relationships, I can honestly say that it has never been quite like this.

I have never felt like I could be completely myself, yet be truly loved – for me, just the way I am.

There was always an ounce of insecurity – a pinch of “OMG, look at that chick”, as his “mates” used to say.

But with J, it’s different.

We are different.

I am different.

He accepts me just the way I am and loves me despite everything that makes up … me.

And I love him. Unequivocally.

So, how do I know that I’ve found “the one”?

I know.

Deep down, inside, I know J is the one for me – that we are … for each other.

And as a Matthew Hussey quote that I came across this last week says:

This is J, to a tee.

So, yeah.

I know I’ve found my person.

I just know.

Sometimes an explanation just doesn’t do justice to the feelings you feel.

x G.