Whether it's for the summer, the school year, or all 365 days, long distance relationships suck. Let's start with the bad news.
THE BAD:
There are a lot of bad things to deal with when in a long distance relationship. The questions like “why haven't you broken up with him/her yet?" and comments such as “oh … well all people in relationships like that cheat" from people who have never experienced LDR's.
There's the getting jealous when there's a couple at the date party because they're together when you're alone because taking someone else wouldn't feel right. There are the simple things like not getting to be a part of your significant other's everyday life or being there for them when they're sick. There are no hugs and kisses when you feel sad. There's no Saturday morning brunch or Thursday night movie/cuddle nights when you don't feel like going out. It's spending extra money to drive or fly to see them, the
THE UGLY:
Here's the stuff that you don't think about or and the stuff that you don't hear about. The fights because you aren't together and then the fights when you get back together because you aren't used to being together anymore. The Kim Kardashian-esque crying for a week straight because the distance is too much and the jealousy that comes with every little thing. The possibility, and in some cases the reality, of infidelity and everything that accompanies that. The times when you don't hear their voice for a week because things got too busy.
Distance will change your
relationship and it will affect you. Don't be naive and think that love knows no distance. Distance will be a huge contributing factor to why a lot of couples break up. If you love the person, distance will be a huge issue, that doesn't mean it can't work, and that's what brings us to …
THE GOOD:
And here's why it's still worth it. It's the way a first kiss feels like pure magic even if you haven't seen each other in months. It's the anticipation the week before you see them, then getting to do everything that you've texted about for weeks: the cuddles on the couch, movie night, and going out to eat.
The good things are what make it worth it. It's the fact that you gain so much trust for your significant other simply because you have to. It's learning how to communicate and asking for what you want. You appreciate the little things like the way that they eat ice cream or the extra cute text that they send before you say good night.
One of the best things is knowing that if you make it through the distance, you can make it through nearly anything. Long distance relationships are a lot of work, but if you make the commitment, it's all worth it in the end.
