Have you ever written a pros and cons list on a yellow legal pad? (That's a How I Met Your Mother reference in case you didn't know) If you said "no" to that question, I do not believe you. People scratch down pros and cons for almost anything. Example: what's the pros and cons of having steak and veggies for supper? Pro, it's delicious. Cons, you have to drive to the store to get ingredients, and you're knee deep in snow. See my point here? Anyway, I've decided to make a pros and cons list of what I think about long distance relationships!
Pros:
1. You can focus on school.
When you live far apart, you don't have to worry about spending time with said person. Or that you are not spending enough time, because you can't.
2. You have time to actually miss them.
I know this sounds kind of crazy, but people can get tired of their significant other (SO) for long periods of time. If you're always around this person, you do not have time to miss them. I think being able to miss someone, like really miss someone, is important.
3. It gives you time to think.
Being away from your person, allows you to think about life A LOT. You have to trust this person and communicate often to keep your relationship growing. Do you see a future with this person, or is it lust that will fade? Does this person put forth effort to include you in their life, or does your relationship go one-way? Do you and this person share the similar values and goals, or do you both want different things?
4. It makes seeing that person all the more special.
When you actually get to see your SO again, all the distance and time you went through is all the more worth it. I promise. There is no better feeling than seeing your SO walk through a gate at the airport, after not seeing them for months.
Cons:
1. You cannot be close to them.
You can't run home or drive a short distance after a crazy day to tell them something. You just can't, and that's the hard part. You can try and call them, but they might be busy. You can wait, but then you may forget what you wanted to say.
2. You're cold, or cozy.
You are always cold, but when you finally feel all warm and cozy it's not the same. You don't have your person to cuddle up to. You're comfort and warmth is not with you, and no heated blanket can replace that. Sorry, it just doesn't happen that way. You get by with lots of layers, and at least five blankets. Don't get me wrong, I love my alone time, but at the end of a long day, I'd rather be sitting with my guy.
3. You get love-sick.
The feeling you get when you miss someone so much it makes you sick to your stomach. Or you catch more illnesses because you do not take care of yourself as much as you would if you were with your person. Yeah, it's a thing.
4. You lose time.
You have less time with your person. People see them more than you do, spend time with them more than you do. You don't get to share memories together. You have to wait and wait until you get to see them again.
All in all, If you are in a long distance relationship, go you! Being apart and knowing you cannot see this person is one of the worst feelings ever. If you are considering a long distance relationship, go for it. It's better to have tried it and find out it doesn't work, than to not know what would have happened if you didn't. But, long distance relationships are work, not childs play. Don't go into it expecting it to be all roses and smiles; because all roses have thorns, and smiles carry frowns.
