I am sure you have all heard the cliché: long distance relationships suck, they never work, someone is bound to cheat, etc. I am here to share with you that yes they do suck and do fall apart at times, but not all the time. I will also share what it is like to be in one and things we do not realize until we are in it.

For most of us in life, we form a bond with one or two people that turns into a relationship outsiders do not understand. Whether it be a mother to daughter, sister to sister, brother to sister, dad to son, friend to friend, etc, most of us has someone special in our lives that we go to for almost everything. Whether it be advice on what to wear, what to eat for dinner if they want to hang out. These people are typically the ones we are most comfortable around. They have seen us at our absolute best, but also at our absolute worst. Either way, they still look at us the same.

Now imagine that mom, dad, sister, brother, or friend had to leave. They had to move because of an opportunity and moving away was in their best interest. You could not go with because your obligations had to keep you here, so distance is what you had to settle for. Doesn’t that scare you? Don’t you fear that you can’t stop over really quick to say hi, watch a movie, or grab food with them? It is heartbreaking that the time you want to spend with them has to be planned, followed along with some form of long distance transportation.

Driving to their house in under 20 minutes is not an option anymore. Last minute dates of movie nights do not exist with this person. Communication has to be through the phone or Skype, and before you know it, your relationship is through technology. Your dinner dates have turned into separate dinners in front of a computer screen, your late night talks have turned into texts or just no talking at all, and you start to realize that the distance is a lot worse than what everyone made it seem like.

That right, there is a long-distance relationship. For everyone that is quick to judge a couple for doing long distance, put yourself in their shoes and realize that it is not as easy as you may think it is. Before you judge that girl or boy for being with their boyfriend or girlfriend who lives states away, imagine your person moving and having to forget about them. Imagine having to do what they do and on top of it, get the backlash of it from people who do not understand.

Like I have said, long distance is not what most people think it is. It is not a separation of two people who spend too much time together or a way of having a relationship in place, but being able to cheat since they are far away. Long distance is a relationship that is forced to be far away but is maintainable if dealt with by the right people.