Love, in close proximity, can yield amazing and magical results. Long-distance relationships can be just as successful, but they usually aren’t because of the emotional strength and patience required to maintain them. But the few that last can evolve into some of the happiest marriages for they’re built on a foundation of trust by two stubborn people, devoted to each other and everything that they’ve built.
“When two hearts are meant for each other, no distance is too far, no time is too long, and no other love can break them apart.”
Such an endeavor as a long-distance relationship is not meant for the insecure, the disloyal or the impatient. It takes a really strong person to make it through everything: the ups and downs. And trust me, there will be plenty of each. However, putting faith into this kind of partnership shows you how strong you can be and helps you grow as a person in the process.
“All the best love stories have one thing in common. You have to go against odds to get there.”
There will be many internal and external forces working against you and making it difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The scene at the end, though, is worth the wait. You can look back, hand in hand, and see everything you’ve overcome to get to that finish line. Plus, it makes for a great story in the future; a tale you can tell your kids and use to convey some important life lessons to them.
“There’s only one thing more precious than our time and that’s who we spend it on.”
When you finally get to visit your partner in a long-distance relationship, your time seems so much more valuable. Even if you’re not doing much of anything, just having them near gives every second more meaning. It says a lot when you have your pick of other people to surround yourself with, but choose that one person for even a short amount of time. The anticipation for your next visit can be exhilarating although exhausting, but it’s essential to have something to keep you both busy between visits, such as school or work. Live your own lives until you can be together.
“Absence is to love what wind is to fire. It extinguishes the small. It inflames the great.”
The relationship itself needs to be strong to continue to grow despite the many miles in between. If you don’t trust one another, if you can’t be patient and rely on your commitment to help you through, then this kind of relationship wouldn’t be worth your time and tears. Many issues boil down to lack of communication, so it’s essential to be open and honest about your feelings, the other relationships in your life, and how you choose to spend your time. It’s a true test of love — for the great infernos, not the delicate candle flames.
“When your mind says ‘give up,’ hope whispers ‘one more try.’”
Hope and positivity may be your greatest weapons against your insecurities. Find something to hold onto—the way your partner makes you feel, your vision for the future—and think of that on your darker days, for there surely will be some. When (not if) you get into a fight with your partner, make sure that it gets resolved. Resentment or misinterpretation can overpower that sense of hope that you so dearly cling to, so the tough conversations and lessons in compromise will truly be worth it. It helps to have a generally optimistic personality, so if that’s you, you’ll see what the power of hope and perseverance can do for your relationship.
“There are four words better than ‘I love you’... ’I’m here to stay.’”
There is one catch: you must have some sort of end plan. Eventually, one or both of you will need to move to be together. That can be exciting and make it all feel worth it, but if neither of you is open to the possibility, then your relationship can only go so far, leaving both of you disappointed and missing out on something better. As long as the distance is only temporary, then you’ll have a paradise to look forward to.
Being in a long-distance relationship myself, I know what it’s like and how tough it can be. But it doesn’t have to be a constant struggle. It can be a growing experience for you and your partner. Through good communication and a shared interest in the future, it can teach you patience, enhance your trust and give you an opportunity to build something amazing and strong that will truly pay off in the end.
