There are positives in a long-distance relationship if you choose to recognize them. Long-distance relationships have a bad reputation because most people find it hard to imagine maintaining a relationship with someone who you do not have the luxury of seeing every week. In my experience, most people doubt their long-term survival. However, they are only focusing on the downsides of long-distance relationships. Despite what people believe, there are positives to a long-distance relationship. I am not saying that they are easy, but they are not impossible. I am also not saying that a long-distance relationship should continue forever. Rather, it is possible to maintain one for some years. They require much more effort and patience than the typical relationship, but long-distance relationships are becoming increasingly popular. Therefore, I wish to offer a positive spin on the situation.

1. Your communication will evolve.

When you are hundreds of miles away from your partner, the survival of your relationship will be dependent on you and your significant other’s ability to communicate. In this day in age, the majority of conversations are exchanged through text messages. Unless you include an emoji in every sentence, it is hard to always interpret a text in the exact context that it was meant. This makes it exceptionally easy to miscommunicate. There is no way to know how the other person is feeling unless they tell you. I guarantee that you are bound to fight over miscommunication sometimes, but the best people learn from their miscommunication. This is where your communication skills will evolve. You will learn to communicate better with your partner. You will have no choice but to learn to express yourself through text messages as best as you can if you expect your relationship to endure the distance. However, the ability to communicate is vital to any successful relationship. As your communication skills increase, your relationship will become stronger.

2. You will develop a sense of independence.

Although I would love to be with my significant other much more than my current situation allows for, as I am sure that others who are in a long-distance relationship feel, I know that we would not develop in the same way if we were to attend the same university. The distance allows us to continue our own lives without getting too wrapped up in each other. I know firsthand that it is special to have someone who is always there for you, but having a dependable support system and being dependent on someone are two very different things. You should never be so dependent on your significant other that you lose your ability to be your own strength at times. The distance will call for you both to be independent, which will allow for you both to pursue your separate interests. Furthermore, you will discover your own personal strength and be confident on your own.

3. The time that you have together will be cherished more.

I have spent the majority of the last year away from my very best friend, my boyfriend, but, despite what you may think, there is a positive spin to this fact. When you cannot see your significant other as much as you would like, you learn to cherish the time that you get with them more. As it is typically said, “People only know what they have when it is gone.” Fortunately, those in a long-distance relationship get to experience this realization without actually losing the person. During the little amount of time that you do get with them, it does not matter what the two of you are doing. Whether it is watching a movie or doing homework, I know that I am just thankful to be in their presence whenever I get the chance. Your time together will be more special than when you could see each other whenever you wanted. No time together will ever be taken for granted after you have spent so much time apart. All of these aspects work to actually strengthen your relationship.

4. You will develop a heightened appreciation for one another.

If someone is willing to spend a large amount of time without you in exchange for a little time with you, you will develop an immense appreciation for this person. These types of relationships take an incredible amount of effort. You will develop an extreme appreciation for your partner because they are willing to put so much into your relationship. If they are willing to contribute this level of effort, you can be sure that they truly care for you.

5. Enduring love beats easy love.

If your love is never tested, how can you be sure if it really is love? Love is meant to be enduring. It is supposed to be able to endure the worst of times, not cower from difficulties. Through my own experience, I can assure you that your love in a long-distance relationship will be repeatedly tested. At times, you will need to have faith that it is all going to work out. I would rather have someone by my side who I know will stick around during the most difficult times, than someone who is only going to be there when things are easy. This is why I say that love that is tested is better. It is enduring. It will help you will discover how strong your love is.

6. Brainstorming sweet gestures can be fun.

Thoughtful, expressive text messages or phone calls can be great ways to reassure your partner about how you feel, but, at some point, your partner might need an extra pick-me-up. Coming up with new ideas to make your significant other happy from so far away can be challenging, but it can also be fun. Some of the ideas that I have experienced are mailing a handwritten letter, a surprise gift, or a care package. Surprising your partner can add fun to the relationship. The best surprises in long-distance relationships are surprise visits.

7. Your trust in each other will grow.

In order to survive the distance, you must place a great amount of trust in the other person. When you do not see the person every day, you do not know what they are doing at all times. However, in order to have a healthy relationship, you should not have to. Trust should not be based on knowing what your significant other is always doing, it should be present in the relationship from the beginning. Distance presents you with an opportunity to grow your trust in each other. If you take advantage of this opportunity, your relationship will have more trust than if there was no distance.

Now that I have shared some of the upsides to a long-distance relationship, I hope that you do not view them as impossible. After all, if someone is willing to wait weeks to see you, they are most likely someone who is worth keeping around. Long-distance relationships are not all full of sadness or despair. They can be as full of love as any other relationship. They are not doomed to go up in flames, but they are guaranteed certain challenges. However, every relationship is bound to enter challenges. So, to all of those high school sweethearts who are about to go their separate ways, maintaining a long-distance relationship is possible. I wish the best of luck to those of you who have the courage and patience to pursue the same type of relationship that I have chosen to maintain.