When Your Loved Ones Are Far

Life after high school is different for everyone. There are those who can't wait for college and those who want to not to think about the changes that will come with it. For many of us, after graduation, there are those who find themselves faced with the situation in which some of their close friends have decided to go to school elsewhere, and for others, there are those who find that they are the ones who moved away to go to a different school.

With the end of semester approaching and the holiday season in full swing, you might find yourself missing a few people that you no longer see on a daily basis. This can make it difficult at times to enjoy the festivities going on, but it isn't impossible.

I'm one of the few people in my friend group to have moved away after graduation. I've found firsthand that it's definitely a challenge to adapt to not seeing those that you care about as much as you would like. Some of the things I've found though is that while things will change, this doesn't mean you should feel alone. One of the good things about having a change in the status quo is getting a chance to get to know other people who you might never have met if things had stayed exactly the same after high school. It's important to grow as people and to try to get out of your comfort zone because life isn't always going to be comfortable. This isn't to say you leave your loved ones behind but rather to leave yourself open to other connections.

When your loved ones are far, whether it be family or friends, try reaching out to them when you have a free moment. It might sound simplistic and an obvious thing to say and while it definitely is, there are so many people that wait for the perfect moment to talk to someone which can make it be anywhere from weeks, to months, to sometimes years before saying hello to someone you care about. This might sound extreme, but it does happen in reality. The longer you wait to reach out to those who you care about, the harder it is to talk to them again whether you meet in person or speak on the phone.

Actions speak louder than words, so if you're missing those you care about, let them know! Send a text, plan a trip over the breaks, heck, be old-fashioned and call them on the phone and if they don't pick up, leave a message. It doesn't take more than a moment to let someone know you're thinking about them, and it's almost guaranteed to lift someone's spirits to see that those they care about were thinking about them and tried to reach out. In life, we're on both sides of the coin in a situation such as this. While there are times we won't hear from loved ones, it's important to treasure the times we do get to have. It's also important to try to discover more about ourselves when we are more on our own.