Many people are curious in what it's like to grow older. And, as a hopeless romantic, I'm also curious about how my perspective on love may change as I get older.

Right now, I'm falling head over heels in love with someone. However, as we grow older, we gain more maturity, and it's only natural that the entire "falling in love" process alters in appearance.

I believe that falling in love is something that various individuals experience in different ways. However, there is a tiny part of me that want to grow old while still having the ability to fall hard and quickly. I believe that the aspect of falling quickly is what makes love so exhilarating in the first place.

As you get older, these are the opinions of ten people on how falling in love changes:

This individual has become jaded:

My love now is tinged with the knowledge of what it means to be unrequited, jaded, jilted, and deceptive, as a result of my past experiences. -au-fsh

This individual still experiences butterflies, but not orgasms:

I'm in my mid-30s and I'm still getting butterflies in my stomach. Not as frequently as before. Not as powerful as before. However, I hardly never experience many orgasms now, primarily due to the fact that I'm exhausted. -smokeycoughlin

This individual, on the other hand, needs a lot to get butterflies in her stomach:

I believe that as I grow older, it takes more effort for me to experience butterflies. It is not enough to have a lovely look and a pleasant demeanor. -kittenlover27

When it comes to falling, this individual believes that he will not fall as hard as he did when he was younger:

I believe that once my wife cheated on me, I fell head over heels in love with her even though I was only 28 or whatever age I was at the time... I don't think I'll ever experience something like it again. In most cases, it will only be a growing love, something that will build over time rather than being the same instantaneous, extremely intense sensation for years to come. -Donitsu

With age, this individual became more optimistic:

I merely put on rose-colored glasses for the time being. -jenesaipas

This individual continues to experience "heart flutters":

I don't believe butterflies are synonymous with love, yet I'm 30 years old and my partner still says or does things that make my heart flutter. Is it ever going to be as passionate/honestly bit mad as it was when I was eighteen years old? I have serious doubts about it. Which is probably a good thing in the long run. -misslistlesss

According to this individual, as you become older, you have a harder time falling in love:

While young, you have a limited understanding of what you truly desire in a relationship, and you are less sensitive to the negative characteristics of your spouse. Being older means that you are more conscious of what you want (or don't want), and you are more cautious in your decisions. You take things a little more slowly. I wouldn't characterize it as "jaded," and I wouldn't characterize it as negative in any way. You just don't fall in love with someone as easily as you used to. What if you throw in previous divorces and children? You can't afford to make a rash and careless decision any more. -titfa

This individual believes that "people become more difficult to love":

Simply put, I believe that individuals get more difficult to love as they grow older, mostly because they become more inflexible. -2bABee

According to this individual, love is a gradual burn:

The first three times I fell in love, it was practically instantaneous, like if an arrow had been shot straight through my heart. It has been gradual and delicate the most recent few times around. It's strange, and it makes me question my own judgment. -aeroguard

When it comes to love, this individual believes that "growing older is great":

Even as you become older, you can still fall in love. According to my personal experience, things have gotten a lot simpler. I believe that elderly folks are simply less apparent because younger people are experiencing it more intensely. Strong emotions are made simpler to deal with when you have coping skills and have been there before. Also, you'll discover what it means to love someone and to be loved in return. You will be able to recognize and avoid abusers more readily. You are well aware of the steps necessary to make someone feel loved. You understand what love should be like, which allows you to really make it work in your life. Growing older is a wonderful thing. -Kropotqueer