My
love story happens to be my favorite. I met him on the internet; he was an
administrator of one of my favorite fan pages. We became best friends, and I
slowly fell in love with his charming personality, his random jokes, and his
sweet nature. The day he asked me to be his girlfriend was one of the best of
my life. However, we definitely have a unique set of challenges we face every
day as a couple. Getting to know each other and spending time together is a bit
harder when he's in Texas and I'm in California. The majority of my
friends and family think it can't work, but if you know what to do, long
distance can be just as fulfilling as "normal"
relationships. Here's a few tips on how we survive the distance.
Do
things at the same time. Try seeing a movie at the same show time
(make sure to adjust time zones), reading the same book, or making the same
meal on the same night. Having connections like this to one another brings you
closer. It also gives you things to talk about and discuss. "Did you like
that part in the movie when...?" "I disagreed with this chapter in
the book." "Did your food turn out as good as mine?" There's
even things online you can do together. If you're gamers, you know that most
modern consoles can connect to the internet, and with XBox live, you can even
talk to one another as you play. Some smart phone apps let you challenge one
another as well.
Send
packages and letters. For Valentine's Day, my boyfriend sent me one of
his shirts that smelled strongly of him. I still sleep in it most nights even
though his smell has long been washed away. The feeling of holding or wearing
something from your special someone is amazing. Knowing that their hand brushed
across that letter or that they once wore the shirt you're wearing helps close
the physical gap in ways you wouldn't expect. Sending gifts via snail mail will
be that much more special if you hand make the gift. Tap into your creative
side; paint a picture, knit a scarf, or you might even try baking
cookies!
Skype. Making
use of this free and reliable feature of the internet will become the heart and
soul of your relationship, I can almost guarantee it. It might be
awkward at first, just like the first few dates might be awkward. But
eventually, it will become easier and more natural to talk over Skype. As time
goes on, it might be fun to just set up your computer, turn on Skype, and do
every day things like cleaning or playing video games. My boyfriend and I often
like to play fighting games together as we Skype so we can trash talk each
other.
Don't
let family and friend's judgment get you down. I can't
number how many negative comments and reactions I've gotten when I talk about
how I'm dating someone two states away. The truth of it is, long distance
relationships are still a new concept. I'd be willing to bet that in a few
years, a significant rise in long distance relationships will occur.
But for now, you have to understand that few people will be open and accepting
of this idea. It's at times like these your relationship will be most tested,
and you'll have to ask yourself if the other person is truly worth it. It helps
to find a few friends, perhaps your parents if you're so lucky, who support
your relationship and will offer you a shoulder to cry on when things get
tough.
As long as you're creative, patient, and trustworthy, long
distance dating can be a fresh alternative to conventional dating. The new
experiences, the way you do things together, and the satisfaction of getting
off the plane and embracing your loved one for the first time makes
things fulfilling and exciting. It definitely has it's drawbacks and
it's hardships, but if you're willing to put in the extra effort, long distance
relationships can survive and help you grow closer to someone you love.
No comments:
Post a Comment