Many people believe long distance relationships to be impossible. People may discourage you from it and immediately talk down your relationship, but I am here to honestly say they are not impossible. I am also, not saying they are simple, but impossible is definitely not the word to use. Friends may have concerns over a heart break that might occur, while others may just tell you it is stupid and naive. A majority of the time, the miles apart make the simplest things easier to appreciate. Long distance relationships are no walk in the park – but they can be great if it is with the right person.
Here are some things I have learned that make long distance seem shorter:
Communication is key.
Without communication the relationship will not exist. Not communicating enough makes the relationship nearly impossible, but also communicating too much will make it extremely difficult. The right amount of communication is key. With today's technology it is so simple to communicate. Also, when I say communicate I DO NOT mean texting. Texting is a poor excuse for communication in today's society and this could probably be the reason for the downfall of your long distance relationship. When I say communication I mean FaceTiming, Skyping, and/or talking on the phone. It might feel like you're in a relationship with your computer, but trust me, it is the closest thing you will get to actually being with each other in this long distance relationship.
Do not overthink things.
This will 100% get you into trouble, and the only person you will have to blame will be yourself. Your boyfriend (or girlfriend) will have friends, probably good ones, of the opposite sex – do not let that get in between you two as a couple. No he or she is not cheating on you, it is called having friends, and those are the people you need in order to survive (especially if you are in college).
Jealousy is not an attractive quality.
When you're hundreds of miles away, jealousy will not save your relationship, but instead destroy it. A little bit of protective jealousy is kind of cute, but as soon as you hit crazy jealous girl/boy-friend it is game over. There is no need for jealousy, it just causes unnecessary arguments.
...Remember when I said communication is key? Well ...
Trust is also key.
Without trust you wouldn't last in a regular relationship, never mind long distance. That's all about that.
Make an effort to visit with one another.
A nice little getaway to see one another is always nice and makes you appreciate your relationship with each other so much more. It is okay to splurge your savings once in a while to go see your loved one; nobody can blame you for trying to make your relationship work.
Don't sweat the small stuff.
If he/she is not answering you he/she is probably sleeping and or does not have their phone on them. Don't go insane worrying because it will only end in a fight. Being in a long distance relationship you definitely need to get over the little things that won't matter in a month.
Let people say what they want.
It isn't always a good idea to listen to everything your friends tell you. Even if they've been in a long distance relationship, they are not in yours – so try not to take anybody's advice except your own, or your moms because lets be honest... she's always right. It'll benefit you and your relationship in the future.
Send little things to one another.
The smallest gestures mean the most. Even a card from your distant partner can make your day that much better because it really lets you know they are still thinking about you.
Get to know their friends.
Becoming familiar with who they hang around with is always great because it also brings you closer to them. Even if this means you have to do some social media stalking to get to know their friends, just do it.
Just know, saying goodbye never gets easier.
No matter how many times you do it, saying goodbye to your long distance lover will never be easy. Setting dates when you will next see each other is the only real bright side to a goodbye.
Stay positive.
This is extremely important. At times where you feel alone and like nobody is there for you because a loved one may not physically be there, just know you're never alone. A long distance relationship is all about growing together. Positivity helps to make this journey a lot easier. When you may doubt this, just remember why you are in a long distance relationship, and it will make it that much easier to succeed.
"Distance means so little when someone means so much."
