Well, I guess it's time for me to get personal for this blog post. By personal, I mean let's talk about love, more specifically, my love for long distance relationships. First, let's talk a little about my dating background. I guess you could say that I've been romantically diverse. Like Lizzo says, " I like big boys, itty bitty boys, Mississippi boys, inner city boys" etc., I can relate to that. I have dated guys that lived anywhere from 5 miles from me to 200 miles from me, and the truth is, I LOVE long distance. Most people think that long distance relationships are weak, but I disagree completely, as they've been the strongest for me.

Currently, I'm in a relationship with a great guy (Brandon) that lives about 2 hours from me. We have been together since February of this year and "Facebook official" dating since April. Most people think a distance gap like this would be hard, but it's quite easy for us for a multitude of reason. My first reason is that we are both very driven, very career-orientated people, meaning we both stay busy throughout the workweek. We don't have a lot of free time to sit around to dwell on the fact that we are 181 miles away from each other. Another reason I love our long distance relationship is the amount of trust we put in each other, and we have gotten to know one another on a deeper emotional level, and not just physical. We have both been on the road for days at time, and I can confidently say that I never worry about where I stand in his life. I have built up trust and confidence through these few months, and I will continue doing so.

Brandon is a one of a kind, sweet Southern gentleman that is worth the wait to see. When we do get to see each other, which is mostly on weekends, it's like we have never missed a beat. I enjoy the time we spend together so much more because of how little time we get to be physically together. The less time you get with someone, the more you want to be with them. I never get tired of spending time with him when I am granted it. Long distance has taught me a lot about myself, and it has taught me how to be in a relationship, but also still be an independent person who has their own goals and aspirations. It has also taught me what fundamental ideas you both need to have like trust and loyalty. I appreciate the little things so much more, and the respect I have for him is immeasurable.

Getting to FaceTime for 20 minutes out of our long days means the world to me. I am grateful to have someone like Brandon who understands and appreciates our relationship, even with the conditions of not being near me everyday. Literally speaking, long distance isn't my favorite because of this and that, long distance is my favorite because of the person I am long distance with. There would be no long distance without this amazing other half that I have. Everyone has a person, and I've found mine, one hundred and eighty one miles away. He's worth that two hour drive every week or every two weeks. He's worth that to me, and much more.