I am in a long distance relationship and chances are that you have been in one too. Some estimates state that up to 75% of college students have been in a long distance relationship at some point. Being in a long distance relationship has its pitfalls for sure. Many friends, family members, and even strangers seem to have a take on my long distance relationship. I often hear comments like, “UHG isn’t that SO hard?”, or my favorite, “Why don’t you just date a nice Auburn boy”. (Note: I am proud to come from a university that has such fantastic gentleman. The fact that I’m dating someone from a different university doesn’t reflect negatively on the top notch men here on the plains!) The comments about my relationship are often times discouraging. Rarely do I tell people that I am in a long distance relationship and hear, “WOAH! That’s awesome.”
Each of these comments reminds me what of a fact that I know too well: That the person I love isn’t as close to me as I want.
Of course, anyone in a long distance relationship wishes their significant other was closer. Don’t be discouraged. Being in a long distance relationship IS awesome! I am here to encourage you my long distance loving friends! I should have known after meeting my current boyfriend on an airplane (YES that does happen.) that our relationship would be a little different. He is currently a student at the University of Georgia while I attend the most beautiful school on the plains, (he disagrees) Auburn. Between school, work, internships, and extracurricular activities a relationship is hard to juggle. A long distance relationship just adds another added curve ball to the mix. An article from CNN (September, 2013) states that persons in long distance relationships felt more committed and connected to their significant other. In my opinion long distance couples work harder to show their love through different medium.
Below I listed a couple ways that I have strengthened my relationship and made the distance seem shorter:
Communication is key in relationships and not being able to see your loved one face to face is difficult, but thanks to technology we have the next best thing. Video chatting is a great way to stay connected. The best video chat programs I have found are Skype, Facetime, and ooVoo. If you prefer the written word you can email, send a letter, or even send a telegraph. TelegramStop.com is a website that lets you send an old fashioned telegram for less than $7. You can also write a few letters to give to your love that they can open at a later date or moment. If you’re in the mailing mood, sending a care package is always a great idea! Fill a flat-rate shipping box with all their favorite things. The dollar store is full of fun items and food to fill it with!
Surprises are also a great idea when you are in a long distance relationship.
My favorite thing to do is to order food from Chris’ favorite restaurant and have it delivered to his house. It’s an easy and cheap way to let your someone know you’re thinking about them. Since your relationship is long distance it’s always a good idea for Christmas and Birthday gifts to be something you can do together (think concerts or fun festivals).
The most important way to make long distance relationships work is to make the most of the time when you are together! I know it can be difficult to begin the moping before your visit is even over but STOP. Make the time you have together count. Make sure you make lots of memories to make up for the time you aren’t together.
If you have any other ideas on make long distance relationships better let me know!
-Logan Hubbard
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