Most of us are familiar with the downsides of having a best friend who lives in a different city, state, or even country. At first glance, it seems there are only downsides. This time, I want to talk about the perks. Here is the silver lining of having a long-distance best friend:

It gives you the opportunity to plan cool trips to visit each other:

Whether it is visiting each other at your respective schools or meeting somewhere in between, there is always a trip to plan and a weekend visit to look forward to. Being old enough to live far away from your best friend also means you are old enough to travel without parents. Who better to travel to and with than your long distance BFF?

When you see little things that remind you of them they brighten your day:

It could be the smallest, most random thing, but somehow, it triggers a memory of your and your BFF. You can’t help but smile, or maybe even giggle out loud. These little memories are always popping up and when they do you can text her, knowing she will get the same enjoyment out of reminiscing about “that one-time when.."

You always have someone to text:

When you don't see your best friend every day, there is so much more to update her on. Everything will be news to her and you can count on her to be excited with you, whether you are telling her about the new organization you just joined or about the delicious breakfast you just ate.

You can always depend on them to be a source of unbiased advice:

She will have a truly objective point of view on most situations, because more often than not, she will not know anything about the people or events you are talking about. You can give her all the facts, and you know that whatever the answer will be, it will be completely unbiased and the straight-up truth without any sugar coating. Their distance from the situation is what makes them such valuable confidantes in times of trouble and confusion.

You learn that real friendship is not lessened by distance, and that, in some cases, it even makes you two closer:

Everyone always warns that when you go off to college, you will lose touch with your best friend, but if you’re lucky, the exact opposite will happen. Distance really does make the heart grow fonder. Technology and social media make staying in constant contact easy for you two, and you can figure out ways to keep your connection. You learn that friendship is not about who you talk to the most but about who you can talk to the least and not lose the closeness. You might go through bouts of constant contact, or a while with none, but you know that this does not mean she loves you any less. You gain total security in your friendship.

It makes you appreciate the time you do get to spend together:

When you are finally reunited, even if just for a few hours, you take advantage of every second, because you have learned to appreciate these rare times. Saying goodbye is hard, but you know as soon as you drive away that you are just that much closer to seeing them again.