It never fails. Every time someone finds out that I am in a relationship, I watch a sliver of excitement reach their eyes and their curiosity peaks. They ask all sorts of questions like: How long have we been together? How do we meet? What does he look like? All of this leads to me inevitably leaking the fact that I am in a long distance relationship to which they respond “Oh”. There’s always a hint of doubt masked horribly by a false unbeat tone. It always makes me laugh a little inside. There are no hard feelings though.
It’s completely understandable. In an age, where social media has disconnected us from honest regular face-to-face communication and we rely on it for validation. These are ingredients for a disastrous relationship.
I learn more and more about how to deal with my relationship as time moves forward, but I can give a couple tips that I’ve learned along the way on how to know if and/or how your relationship can withstand distance, if life unfortunately brings you down that path.
- Prioritize. I’m willing to bet that the whole reason you are considering (or you’re already in one) is because you have other goals in life that prevent you from being physically being together at the moment. It’s important to understand the balance between your romantic and professional goal, how to seperate them, and when its okay to let the two mesh together.
- Time Management. Take the time to visit each other and plan things. Find ways to keep the bond and show your commitment to each other despite the circumstance.
- Communication is a key. I know all of you have heard that at least once in your life time. The preceding tips don’t work if you and your partner do not engage in effective communication. The content of what you say is important, but the time you take to talk to each other is just as important.
All in all, like every other type of relationship, there is a level of sacrifice that goes along with long distance. Conscious planning in every aspect will make you less likely to resent the require effort to make things work. You have to decipher whether yours is worth the work. Many people will discourage and tell you that a long distance relationship will never work. And maybe they’re right. Maybe they don’t work…except when they do.