Growing up and finally moving away from home is an exciting time. For the majority of the summer preceding your big move all you think about is the excitement of beginning college and the fun times that lie ahead. The ONLY downfall is that you are not packing up your best friend with the rest of your belongings. She is attending a different college and as fall quickly approaches, you freak out because she won't be right by your side throughout this new adventure. You quickly find yourself in the first stage of a LDF (long distance friendship).
No better best friend duo than Blair and Serena to outline the 10 stages we all go through when entering a long distance friendship
Stage One- Denial
At first you can't take the thought of not seeing your best friend every day seriously, so you just pretend it's not happening for the majority of the summer.
Stage Two- Reality
With summer coming to a close, reality sinks in and you realize that they weren't kidding the first time they said it, they are not attending the same college as you are.
Stage Three- Depression
Major depression sets in as you consider the fact that your partner in crime is going to be living hours away.
Stage Four- Fear
You fear that you won't find other friends who you can completely be yourself around.
You fear that there isn't anyone else in the world who will always be willing to go eat with you.
You fear the for the bad days, because when a bad day comes, the one thing you know is that being with your best friend is the only thing that cheers you up.
Stage Five- The Move
When it comes time for saying goodbye, all you think is how Thanksgiving Break feels like an eternity away. This day may be one of the top 5 saddest days of your life.
Stage Six- Loneliness
The first few weeks are lonely and you are always checking your phone for missed calls or texts. You can't imagine that anyone else in the world could compare to your best friend so you sit alone in your dorm eating Double Stuffed Oreos and watching Gossip Girl on Netflix.
Stage Seven- Jealousy
Eventually you and your bestie realize that you can't sit in bed alone all day and Facetime each other from separate school cafeterias forever (plus they don't allow cats in dorm rooms) so you begin to make new friends. Even if you don't consider yourself a jealous person, you will get jealous watching your best friend make new friends. And your Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, and Facebook Timeline won't let you forget it.
Stage Eight- The Heart To Heart
There comes a time in every long distance friendship when you and your best friend have to sit down and have a heart to heart. This is a pivotal point in the LDF. You establish the fact that the two of you will always be best friends and you alleviate each other's fears that the girl down the hall on your dorm is not going to be your Maid of Honor.
Stage Nine- Acceptance
Eventually, you begin to realize that no matter the distance you will still be best friends. You establish a stable phone relationship and keep each other updated on current events in your lives, and she is always the person you call when you are walking back from the library late at night.
Stage Ten- Long Distance Best Friends
The distance may be temporary or you may be in a long distance friendship for years to come, but no matter what you know that your best friend is only be a phone call away. You don't take for granted the time you get to spend together and you've never been more thankful for modern technology.
