Leighton Meester: `Love changes me`

The 24-year-old Gossip Girl actress said that both platonic and romantic love help her to grow.

She explained to Seventeen, 'I think that the importance of love is really strong for me in my life, whether it's a guy or a friend or just my puppy.

'I think love changes you over time, and whether you have good or bad experiences, you always grow and learn from it.'

She added that she finds it hard to commit to a long-term relationship because of the time they take to cultivate.

'The way I become friends with somebody is a slow process,' she said. 'You can't just spill your guts and tell them everything about yourself and expect them to listen and understand you, because you don't know them. It's the same thing with a relationship.

'I want a family someday and I know that I have to let love in to create that and I think there is someone out there for me, but I'm not on some crazy hunt for that right now.'