Long distance relationships have a stigma surrounding them that claims "they're too much work," "they'll end up in those involved cheating," or "they just don't work." While some of these complaints have been known to happen, I'm here to explain to you that they are generally wrong. That's right, ladies. If he really loves you, he will give the long distance scenario a shot.
There are three ways to make a long distance relationship work, and as a young girl who is obsessed with her long-distance boyfriend of a year and a half, I can safely say these are, in fact, the glue that keeps these types of situations going.
1. There is a light at the end of the tunnel
The first way to guarantee your relationship will stay golden is to constantly have a date set where you will see your significant other in person. I am lucky enough to see my boy either every weekend, or every other weekend. I can sympathize for the truly long distance couples with longer time spans to suffer through, but I cannot say I've experienced it first hand. I just know that any time spent away from my boyfriend is awful, and having a permanent date set that is not subject to change gives us a reason to be excited and cherish the moments we do have together even more.
2. Communicate communicate communicate
I can not say it enough, constant communication is truly the number one reason Mason and I have made it this far. Whenever someone asks how we're still together, I always have the same answer; he has to be my best friend before my boyfriend. This isn't a relationship that will happen overnight, but it is definitely a foundation you need to have if you're going to make the distance work. I tell Mason everything, no matter how dumb it is. It isn't about impressing him at this point, there is literally no way I could ever be embarrassed in front of him. He knows everything and is my shoulder to cry on in any situation, making it literally impossible to ever have a reason to hide something or lie to him.
We are there for each other no matter what time it is, and we're one hundred percent committed to our relationship. It's important to remember that for seemingly difficult relationships to work (or any for that matter) you have to put in perspective that this is your potential partner for the rest of your life. This isn't just a fun fling, but a partnership meant to last longer than the season of life where you're apart.
3. Trust
This seems like a cliche tip, but trust truly is the glue that pieces everything together. You have to trust that you'll see each other on the date you agreed to. You have to trust that the communication between you two is truthful and as frequent as it can be. Trust is the hardest tip out of all of these because it takes so much time and effort to build, but can be completely ruined with one action.
Mason and I still struggle with trusting each other in new or foreign situations, but as long as we communicate and work out our concerns, our trust in each other only grows. It's a cycle that your relationship must stay on in order to continue. Trust and communication go hand in hand; while both are hard to establish, they're the only thing missing from the happy relationship you're looking for.
In conclusion, while long distance relationships require a lot of work, they're definitely not impossible. I don't know what I would do without Mason in my life, and there is absolutely no way distance could break the bond we have. No matter how hard it seems, remember that while the distance is a season of your life, your significant other could potentially be forever.
