Well said galileogirl. For me, the whole plan of a long term relationship is to enjoy the novel romantic feelings in the beginning, and use them as a catalyst to form a deeper bond. Take that “pepper sprout fever” and spend time together, take pictures together, talk long into the night, cook dinner, go on trips- make a lot of positive memories together. Then, if/when the intensity of the fever fades, you will have formed a deeper emotional bond to him/her. You can actually call them your significant other.
There will be rocky times. You’ll fight for no reason. You’ll go to bed with no earthly idea what the other person is saying. You’ll wonder what you got yourself into sometimes. But ignore those things. Recognize the beauty and mystery of two individuals sharing common ground. Recognize that you have chosen each other, out of 6.3 billion people, to share your life together. That is incredible!
Then, when you look up from your steak and asparagus one evening, you’ll look across the table and see their face, completely normal- chewing asparagus, and you’ll realize that you love them deeply, unconditionally, without remorse.