Alright, so I am going to be frank with you. Being in a long distance relationship literally sucks. Whatever the circumstances are, it just sucks. So why put up with it? Break up, right? Leave? That's what most people think or say when they hear someone is in a long distance relationship. "It won't last," or "they'll cheat on each other"... why?

Now, this may be cliche but let me paint a picture for you... you're in college, eighteen or maybe nineteen years old, and you meet someone. They give you butterflies when you're around them and your heart skips a beat when your phone lights up with their name. You have a crush- but before you know it, you get closer and- now you start dating.

You spend a lot of time with him/her. You go out together and laugh at each other's jokes. People start to notice you two as a couple. You feel comfortable with them and you start developing more intimate, deeper feelings. Then a year goes by, you're still together and everything is great. You're as happy as ever and you're in love. Yes, the "L" word. You spend most of your time with them, not because you need to be with them, but because you want to. You enjoy their company and they become your best friend.

Two years later, you're still together. Ha, you thought you were in love before- but now it seems like you fall more and more in love as the days progress. You're relationship has of course had its ups and downs, like all relationships do, but you've worked as a team to push through the hardships and here you are, two years later, reminiscing on the day you met, your first date, your first kiss, the first time you said "I love you". Why are you reminiscing? Because your partner, your other half, your heart is elsewhere. Hundreds, maybe thousands of miles elsewhere. It hurts, day in and day out. You struggle to fall asleep because they're not laying there next to you and you dread doing simple things like going to the food store because its just a trip to the food store- whereas when they were with you, it was a fun adventure. Everything was a fun adventure when you were with them.

This is what I mean when I say it sucks. But let me say one more thing about long distance... it is so incredibly worth it.

When you find someone that you click with on that specific kind of level, don't let them go. You'll know the exact feeling I am talking about once you experience it. I believe that you shouldn't give up when times get hard; you don't leave or throw in the towel. You push and thrive to make it work because that is what love is. Of course there will be bad days and of course you'll miss that person who makes your eyes light up every time they walk in the room, I am not going to lie to you. But the distance is only physical. Yes there may physically be miles and miles between you two, but your connection and love overcomes that. Keep focused on the future and being reunited again.

I love my boyfriend; I knew it would be hard but I never knew it was possible to miss someone this much until I rolled over in the middle of the night and reached out to cuddle him but found nothing but cold sheets and an empty bed. I hate the days that I can feel every mile between us. I often wake up and struggle with the fact that I am going another day without being able to simply hold his hand but it's worth it to know there is someone out there that loves me with his whole heart. I could never give up and walk away from that. So even though it may be tough right now, I am counting down the days till I see him again and I tell myself everyday to be positive. I am lucky because some people spend their whole lives looking for the love I found in him.

"Just keep loving me. I'll keep loving you. And the rest will fall in place."