Most of us turn to our friends when we need someone. Since we were born we’ve been trained on how to make and keep friends. We tend to make friends with people who are convenient; those who live near us. We prefer to see our best friends as much as possible. But, what if your best friends live far away? Maybe one of you moved, or met at school or an internship and are having to deal with the reality of not seeing each other daily like you would like. It may be easier to let your friendship fail and fade away into your past. It takes a mutual effort to keep the bond and friendship strong.

To maintain a long distance friendship there are several things that must take place. First, you must speak as much as you can. If schedules allow, every day. Keeping in contact and updating each other on your lives is key to making sure your friendship is as normal and authentic as it can be. Treat each other the way you would if you were able to see each other all the time. Next, you should try to always have either a definite or tentative plan to see each other in mind. Relationships are meant to exist in person. The new age of technology has incredibly altered the way people interact. If you want to keep that close feeling, it is crucial to know when you’ll see each other next. Whether it’s a week or a year away, it gives you both something to look forward to and even more of an incentive to keep working on your relationship. Each visit should feel like a mini celebration. Additionally, its important that both/all parties feel totally included in each other’s lives. Friends and family alike should know about the other. It shows not only that you miss them but they are important enough to be on your mind and to talk about whenever you get the chance. It cements the feeling of importance and relevance in your life.

Being closest with the ones farthest away from you can be tough. Its easy to feel like you have a piece of you missing and wonder if the friendship is even worth pursuing or if it’d be easier to let it go. The truth of the matter is that compared to the amount of people there are in this world, we meet such a microscopic portion of them. Forming serious and true friendships with the people around us is a very special thing. Whether your best friend lives near or far, if you still care about them, it’s important to go the extra effort to show them that you care. Being a good friend is not a foreign concept to any of us – but we tend to underestimate the work it takes to earning that title.