The dating world is tough, especially for college students. These days it seems that the norm is to stay single, party every weekend and hook up with as many people as possible. Relationships sometimes aren't looked at in the best light, even less for long-distance relationships. We've all heard the long-distance relationship horror stories: high-school sweethearts going to different colleges try long-distance then one or both people get their taste of real freedom and end up calling it quits.
One of the most common things I've heard about long-distance relationships is, "You're setting yourself up for being cheated on (or to cheat)."
Yes, it happens, but that is not the story for everyone. There are those of us who are in successful long-distance relationships (myself included) who hate hearing them get talked down upon. Not every long-distance relationship is the same, but those of us who are in them share a lot of the same experiences and hear the same things.
Another classic: "long-distance relationships are too hard."
While that may be true for some, I'd like to remind everyone that it is the year 2016. It is easier than ever to be in a long-distance relationship. When calling, texting, Face Time, Skype, etc. exist, you can be in touch with a significant other at all times.
Some people, like myself, don't exactly have the privilege of being able to talk to their significant other at any given time. When we first got together, my boyfriend and I saw each other frequently. We worked together and would spend time together after work or on our days off. That lasted only a few weeks, because my boyfriend enlisted in the Navy. I had to go two months without talking to him while he was in boot camp, with the exception of the occasional phone call or letter. Now, while I definitely can talk to him more frequently, there are times that we can't talk, such as if he had to go to into school for class or to study. Other times, our schedules would conflict, so we'd have to miss out on our nightly Skype date, which really sucks, but it happens.
In the past, I've taken things like texting and Skying for granted; we use them all the time without even thinking about it. We are glued to our phones 24/7. I now appreciate the technological inventions that make relationships run a little smoother. Long-distance relationships would've definitely been 100 times harder before then. For the people who went through an LDR successfully without the technology we have today, this is a shout out to you.
Last but not least, another criticism I hear about LDRs is that it is not really a relationship because our S/O isn't physically here at all times. I highly disagree. There are many kinds of relationships: some people like to see their S/O all the time, while others like their space. I found that being in an LDR works for me because I like to have my space while knowing that I am with someone I love. While we may be thinking about and planning our future faster than most other people in their 20s, I wouldn't give up being with my best friend for anything.
While many of us don't get to see our S/O very often, there is definitely a strong connection between people who decide to go into an LDR. These people definitely love each other a lot; they are working hard to keep their relationship intact, whatever the circumstances may be. While I only get to see my boyfriend a couple times a year, the time that we do spend together is truly special. If you really love someone, you will find a way to make it work. Let's stop giving long-distance relationships a bad name.
