According to Statistic Brain, 32.5% of college relationships are considered to be long distance. I know deciding to go long distance can be a hard transition, especially if you were high school sweethearts, but when you really think about it, there are actually some secret advantages to these relationships.
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You learn to appreciate the time you DO have together. Don’t get me wrong, you can appreciate your special someone whether you’re right next door to one another or across the ocean. But, when they live close enough to where you see them constantly, it becomes routine. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but if you have to wait weeks/months/years to see the one you love, you’ll never take another second with them for granted once you are together again.
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You learn to budget your money. Confession: I am a massive shopaholic. I’m happy? Buy something to celebrate. I’m sad? Buy something to make me feel better. I love clothes and there isn’t an occasion in which buying more seemed like a bad idea. However, now that my boyfriend and I do not live around the corner from one another, I have to pay $200+ any time I want to see him. I’ve had to put my shopping addiction on hold so I can spend time with him. Budgeting your money is an important life skill to have anyway, so learning to “adult” while getting to see him is an unexpected perk to the distance.
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Your relationship grows stronger. Trust is one of the biggest aspects of a relationship. Without trust, can you have a successful relationship? Probably not. Long distance relationships are terrible in so many ways, but you learn to trust your partner more than ever before. They could be doing anything with anyone and you’re trusting them to be responsible and faithful. Not only trust, but your communication skills also flourish. They can’t know you’re upset if you don’t tell them and vice versa. The growth of your relationship is dependent on communication and trust between the two of you, which ends up strengthening the relationship, big time.
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It’s easier to surprise your special someone. Care package, anyone? Not only is it easier to surprise someone when they can’t be with you physically (whether it be a random care package or any present in general), you can also surprise them with yourself. Don’t know what to get them for the holidays? Go visit them. Birthday? Go visit them. Literally anything at all, go visit them, if you can afford it. It’ll probably be one of the best presents they could hope for.
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Every time you see each other, you go on new adventures. When there are hundreds or even thousands of miles separating you and the one you love, you need to make the most of the time when you do get to see each other. Whether it be something little, like going to a pumpkin patch, or big, like a fancy dinner, there will always be something you want to experience together before your time is up. The waiting is completely worth it when you get to go on that adventure with them you have been planning for weeks.
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You become your own people. This is super cliche, but oh so true. I am not saying that I would not love to have my boyfriend by my side as I discover all these things about myself during these college years. But, by being separated (in my case, by 1,295 miles), you learn to be independent. You and your partner are able to grow along your own paths and still be able to go home at the end of a long day to call them and just talk about it. You become an individual and so do they, which creates (ironically) a sense of unity between the two of you.
I know it’s hard, but just remember, if you and your partner are able to overcome long distance, there aren’t many things that your relationship won’t be able to overcome. Keep your head up and remember that the distance should not stop you from being with someone you care about so much. Stay busy and don’t stress – you are your partner will be together again before you know it.