It can be quite a shock to the heart when classes start up again and you and your summer love have to go your seperate ways. Don’t fear the distance, though, as many relationships can make it through the solo time quite well. Here are a few tips for those of you who haven’t tried the far-away romance before:
Forget Facebook:
Yes, you may have loved messaging on this site and stalking one another’s photos when you were courting, but Facebook can be toxic when distance is thrown into the equation. You notice your significant other is spending an awful lot of time out on the town and being tagged in an awful lot of strangers’ photos. There are a few people who post on his or her wall just a little too boldly, and the anxiety on your end starts taking over your day. While sometimes these little things can be red flags and alert you of a less-than-faithful, or simply less-than-serious, significant other, most of the time those posts and photos dramatize the situation at hand. If you aren’t interested in actually removing your long-distance lover from your friends list, at least hide him or her from your news feed. Those constant reminders of the fun you two aren’t having together can be the lid over a spark that might’ve otherwise flourished.
Embrace Solo-Time:
No, not that kind of solo time. Just regular, G-rated solo time. Have a book you’ve been dying to read, but all of those movie nights kept getting in the way? Want to start a hobby that takes a bit of effort, like scrapbooking or blogging, but haven’t found the free time? Now that your cutie isn’t always hanging out with you, you can better yourself and give him or her another reason to admire you and your interests. Who knows, maybe he or she will have a few new hobbies that you’ll appreciate the next time you meet up. Time alone doesn’t doom you to an uneventful or unproductive stage in your life; it has the potential to do quite the opposite.
Splurge on Snail Mail:
Yes, you’re probably going to realize that being apart means less inside jokes and the possibility of more awkward silences due to lack of shared experiences. Combat this nerve-racking combination by taking advantage of a good old-fashioned care package. Grab a cardboard box a little larger than your average four-slice toaster and fill it with memorable goodies and gifts. Grab something that reminds you of one of your favorite dates, maybe a ticket stub if you went to a concert with this lucky person, or a sports-memorabilia coffee mug if you two enjoyed a baseball or football game before you two added mileage between you. Throw in his or her favorite candies, make some sweets on your own, and add in a lacy new piece of lingerie. Finish up with a handful of colorful tissue paper and top the package with a sincere and caring note. Sometimes the trinkets and tidbits add up, but the loving feeling that you send to your significant other will make every cent spent in shipping completely worth the effort and spare change.