Love someone without falling in love with them

The very word falling conotates a weakness. I’m starting to believe more and more that you can actually love someone without “falling” in love with them. And the quality of your relationship is actually strenthened and lengthened because you don’t go and sacrifice yourself at the altar of “falling in love”. I’m yet to find out if this is true,of course. I am a mere mortal after all :)