Him: "Good Morning."
Me: "Goodnight."
It's 4 a.m. in Beaufort, South Carolina, and 5 p.m. in Iwakuni, Japan. This may seem like an absurd part of my routine, especially for someone who is in college. At this point though, I am used to it. Being in a military long distance relationship while in college is far from being easy. I can recall a night or two when I cried overwhelmingly because all I needed was a hug. Not just any hug from anyone, but the one whom I needed it from most; the person I love. Out of the four years of our relationship, he was stationed in Japan for two of them. Out of the two years he was gone, I only saw him twice. Read that again.... twice. The first time he came home was when I graduated from high school. The second would not be until a year later, which was his sisters wedding. It was the hardest, most difficult journey I have ever experienced. Yet, I grew, and so did he. Our relationship became stronger.
The saying, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder" had never been more true for us. When he returned home after not seeing him for a year, it was the most wonderful feeling that I cannot describe, but can only be experienced. It was like having a breath of fresh air. Even being in the same time zone as him was just as exciting. It was like holding his hand for the first time. If you saw us, you would have thought we were a new couple because of how flirty we were being. Waiting for those moments though was one of the hardest parts. It is 100% doable though, and it is worth it all in the end!
To keep from staying melancholy constantly, I would keep busy. Because I was a college student, school work was my number one way of keeping my mind off the long distance. I learned a lot my freshman year. I learned that happiness from my relationship was not the only way of remaining happy. Being with friends, focusing on bettering myself, and helping those around me all counted as ways that I grew as a person while he was away. Volunteering in different organizations, working, and even cooking were also great ways of keeping my mind off of the fact that my significant other was more than 8,000 miles away.
It's okay to be sad every once in awhile, it's okay to even need a little time for yourself to push through. The last few months are always the hardest, but once it's the end, and you're united at last; you will look back and reflect on the time you were able to grow, and now bestow that growth upon your relationship. Being in college is tough. Adding a LDR on top of that makes it seem impossible. Love never dims though, no matter how dark times may get. Remind yourself why you started dating, and tell each other how much you mean to one another. Be kind and patient towards one another. Wish each other a good day and keep them in your prayers. There is always a way to make it work.
Me: "See you soon love."
Him: "I'll see you soon beautiful."
