Anyone in a long-distance relationship could probably relate to this photo. ? Valentines Day and you’re hundreds or thousands of miles away from each other, your tenuous link at the mercy of technology.
We have been like this for a little more than a decade now, imagine that? And we have been together for a lot longer than that time. We have been through a hell of a lot of changes since the start. From scrawny high school kids to cocky college students to where we are now. From best friends to best friends with benefits (haha!) back to strangers to officially in a relationship to (hopefully soon) married couple. Between us, there have been loads of laughter, buckets of tears and countless memories.
Since he went abroad, we have been physically together only a handful of times every coupla years or so. Needless to say, we make the most of our time together whenever he’s here. It’s always never enough. We can only wish we could be together 24/7; alas, reality gets in the way. I still have to work, and he still needs to spend at least some time with his family.
We’ll be the first to admit that this kind of relationship is not easy. It can get quite lonely. Throw in an emotionally reserved guy and slightly neurotic girl and it gets all that much harder. We seldom fight but when we do, we fight hard. Well, at least I do–he’s ever the voice of reason, especially in an argument. ? Nevertheless, I cannot stress enough the importance of constant communication. Even if it’s just to say good morning/night, to share news, or to bitch about one thing or another, every little message helps. Every word counts. Nothing is to mundane or too deep to discuss. There is no room for shyness, or pride as to who will be the one to send a message first. We’re on equal footing; any perceived personal advantage equalized by the great distance between us.
So yes, there is less to almost no thrills at this point of our relationship. I say almost because it does happen–only very far and few in between. ? But I digress. The point is that despite that seeming setback, we are still together. The love between us is still there, strong as it’s ever been–the steady comfort of each other’s faith and promise making a fine security blanket. One that lulls us both to an easy sleep, albeit on different beds and different times. ?
When I was younger, I had been in one or two LDR, and I can honestly say that it is tough. But to maintain it for years, the sounds really really hard that for many people, it seems impossible. But each relationship is unique, and so it is up to you to make it work, regardless of what people say.
At the end of the day, the same foundation that makes a relationship last is still trusting. Trust each other that each one will be honest and faithful. Trust that you and your partner could make it work.