An Open Letter To My Long Distance Best Friend

An Open Letter To My Long Distance Best Friend

Thanks to the guy who is always there for me.
Alyssa Strassburg
Alyssa Strassburg Jan 31, 2017
14
views

Going away to college is a tried and true experience of many young adults across the world. During my senior year of high school, I was finding that the best school for me was across the state, a total of eight hours away from you. This choice I made to go away to school, to a place where I wouldn't know anyone seemed incredibly daunting at first, but, before I could doubt my choice, you reassured me that I was on the right path. A path that meant I would be too long of a drive away to see my best friend for months at a time.

That was two years ago. You're in college now too, and we're a total of 12 hours away from one another for most of the year. Yet, despite the fact that our distance has grown, I don't feel that our friendship has faltered in the slightest.

Sure, we occasionally go too long without talking sometimes, and yeah, it often sucks playing phone tag, but when we do get the chance to talk, it never ceases to bring a smile to my face that will last for hours after the call. My friends at school have even begun noticing how much my mood actually brightens after we talk, no matter the subject matter or length of the call.

I'm not entirely sure why our friendship works the way it does, why it's able to last through great distance, or why it is that your terrible puns never cease to make me laugh, but I do know that I thank God every day for you.

Thank you for reminding me of all my strengths and keeping me wary of my weaknesses. Thank you for supporting me with any means you can, when I fail at keeping myself together. Thanks for pushing me to better myself and helping me brainstorm creative ways to navigate life. And perhaps most importantly of all, thank you for always being there for me in this messed up journey despite being 12 hours away.

Thanks for being you.

Love,

Lys

Cover Image Credit: Kineo Life
Alyssa Strassburg
Alyssa Strassburg Jan 31, 2017
At State University of New York at Old Westbury

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I'm The Girl Without A 'Friend Group'

And here's why I'm OK with it

Taylor Grace Abrahams
Taylor Grace Abrahams Apr 3, 2017
915587
views

Little things remind me all the time.

For example, I'll be sitting in the lounge with the people on my floor, just talking about how everyone's days went. Someone will turn to someone else and ask something along the lines of, "When are we going to so-and-so's place tonight?" Sometimes it'll even be, "Are you ready to go to so-and-so's place now? Okay, we'll see you later, Taylor!"

It's little things like that, little things that remind me I don't have a "friend group." And it's been like that forever. I don't have the same people to keep me company 24 hours of the day, the same people to do absolutely everything with, and the same people to cling to like glue. I don't have a whole cast of characters to entertain me and care for me and support me. Sometimes, especially when it feels obvious to me, not having a "friend group" makes me feel like a waste of space. If I don't have more friends than I can count, what's the point in trying to make friends at all?

I can tell you that there is a point. As a matter of fact, just because I don't have a close-knit clique doesn't mean I don't have any friends. The friends I have come from all different walks of life, some are from my town back home and some are from across the country. I've known some of my friends for years, and others I've only known for a few months. It doesn't really matter where they come from, though. What matters is that the friends I have all entertain me, care for me, and support me. Just because I'm not in that "friend group" with all of them together doesn't mean that we can't be friends to each other.

Still, I hate avoiding sticking myself in a box, and I'm not afraid to seek out friendships. I've noticed that a lot of the people I see who consider themselves to be in a "friend group" don't really venture outside the pack very often. I've never had a pack to venture outside of, so I don't mind reaching out to new people whenever.

I'm not going to lie, when I hear people talking about all the fun they're going to have with their "friend group" over the weekend, part of me wishes I could be included in something like that. I do sometimes want to have the personality type that allows me to mesh perfectly into a clique. I couldn't tell you what it is about me, but there is some part of me that just happens to function better one-on-one with people.

I hated it all my life up until very recently, and that's because I've finally learned that not having a "friend group" is never going to be the same as not having friends.

SEE ALSO: To The Girls Who Float Between Friend Groups

Cover Image Credit: wordpress.com
Taylor Grace Abrahams
Taylor Grace Abrahams Apr 3, 2017
At University of Missouri

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Don't Feel Bad For Me When I Say I'm In A Long-Distance Relationship

There's no need for anyone to say, "oh, that sucks" or "that's annoying" or "I don't know how you do it" because I really do love my relationship.

Madison Riggle
Madison Riggle May 26, 2019
374
views

When I first went out with my boyfriend, I wasn't expecting anything to come from it. He was in the Marines, stationed in South Carolina, and it was just a stupid Tinder date because I was bored and I thought he was funny and cute over Snapchat. Not only did he live an eight-hour drive away, but he was also heading out of the country for Christmas. I never thought I would ever hear from him again after I got into my car and drove back home.

But, I did, and a year and a half later, going on that coffee date was one of the best decisions I've ever made.

Right from the start, I knew if he and I were going to date, we would have to face a long-distance relationship for roughly two to three years- whether I finished school first or he got out of the military was up to fate. For us, being apart is normal. We're so used to talking through FaceTime rather than face to face and not seeing each other for weeks on end is more familiar than hugging. We've probably blown more kisses through the phone than having had real kisses.

Would I love to be just a minutes drive away from him?

Absolutely.

Would I trade my relationship for anything else?

Never.

There's no reason for you to feel bad for me when I tell you I'm in a long distance relationship.

There's no need for anyone to say, "oh, that sucks' or "that's annoying" or "I don't know how you do it" because I really do love my relationship.

Being away from each other is just something we do. It lets us be independent, focus on work and school, but still allows us to support each other. Sure, long-distance relationships aren't for everyone, but couples make them work. No relationship is normal and like every other relationship, it takes patience, learning, and commitment. The only difference between a 'normal' relationship and a long-distance relationship is is that our 'date nights' consist of eating dinner together over FaceTime instead.

Madison Riggle
Madison Riggle May 26, 2019
At Florida Gulf Coast University

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