What can beat a relationship with someone special? Walking across campus hand in hand with someone between classes, late-night study dates, grabbing lunch or dinner on a whim. But what happens when those little moments are not readily available? Maybe that certain someone is only a county away, maybe a state, but maybe it’s a few time zones over where you would find them. So how do you keep that relationship going? Here are three tips to make sure that distance is not the reason that a relationship fails.
1. Acknowledge that long distance can work.
You hear it all the time. “Long distance can never work.” “You need to be able to see that person all the time.” While harder, it is still very much possible to make it work despite the miles between. These people that say these things are often from previous generations. However, we live in the age of FaceTime, Skype and long distance calling. These may not be the same as face-to-face conversations, but these modes of communication are far better than nothing. It comes down to a mindset of confidence. Believe you can do it, and you can do it.
2. Do not think that you need to talk to each other every single day.
Despite the importance of communication, do not fall into the trap that you always have to be engaged with them on the phone or computer. You do not have to be in contact with them 24/7, nor should you. Forcing conversation just for the sake of it is what causes so many relationships to burn out in a rut. Instead, make sure the conversations are meaningful, intentional, and most of all genuine.
3. Do your best to make the face-to-face moments special.
Given enough time, eventually, the stars will line up to where you can see that special someone in person. This is a crucial time. These moments may be far and few between, or they can be a semi-regular thing. Regardless, there may be large time gaps between these moments of seeing them. So it is important to make those times special and memorable. And this does not have to be a grand gesture of bouquets and fancy dinners. It can be a simple movie in pajamas or a hike through a nature trail with a picnic. The moments are as special as you make them, and they may be all that you get, but you can make them so much more than another date.
Assisted by Harrison Lucas