We live in an era where a digital world is at the tips of everyone’s fingers. There is a certain downside to the digital world, which includes the pressure that comes with social media. The upside to it is the ability to stay in touch with our loved ones, especially in long distance relationships.
Many people wonder whether they are capable of maintaining a long distance relationship. There are so many questions to consider: Can we emotionally handle it? Can we balance time? Can I trust this person? Would it be worth it in the end? Even if you’re certain that it’s a risk you want to take, most people experience doubt in the beginning of their long distance relationship endeavors.
So let’s say you’ve sworn you could never do long distance, but you’ve just met someone in a different state, or even country, who could honestly be “the one”. You’ve got to make a decision, is this long distance relationship a risk you are willing to take?
Let’s say you do decide to get into a long distance relationship, the first thing to consider is whether or not you and your significant other are on the same page. Are you in it for the long haul or just a summer fling? It is better to be in a long distance relationship if you believe this person is end game. There is no need to put in excessive effort into something that will only last for a season.
When going into a long distance relationship, you have to have plenty of faith and trust in the person you are making this commitment with. People often wonder: is the other person more susceptible to cheating on them while living in a separate state or country. To which I offer the perspective: you could be cheated on while living in the same town. It’s important to be secure with yourself and vow to always be honest even if it hurts.
Trusting your partner is just as important as trusting yourself. Even in a close distance relationship, you have to commit to trusting yourself and whether that it is something you fully want, or it can lead to self sabotage. This can lead to impulsive or irresponsible behavior such as flirting with others, being dishonest about your relationship status, or even flat-out infidelity.
You should also take into consideration whether you can handle effective scheduling. Being in a long distance relationship, you are making a promise to be together while also living separate lives. Make sure you can handle the difference in your schedules. Some days will be filled with detailed texts messages followed by long facetime calls; other days, the texts will be scattered and the facetime calls are just for a brief “goodnight”. You have to be able to use the limited time you both have to communicate effectively.
Despite having your sweetheart miles away, don’t wait by the phone. You, as well as your partner, deserve a well balanced social life. Setting apart time for you friends is just as important. It goes without saying that while in any relationship, you shouldn’t forget your friendships.
Communication is important in any relationship. You and your partner should be making the effort to talk things through and be honest with what you believe. It’s important to comprehend each other, discuss your needs, concerns, and values. This is especially important in a long distance relationship; failure in communicating can make your relationship feel like you’re balancing on a thread.
There are ways to make your long distance relationship a fruitful one. In our day and age things like Facetime, instant messaging, and bond touch bracelets make it easier to maintain this kind of relationship. While people tend to look down upon long distance, there are plenty of benefits. I firmly believe that if you can outlast long periods of time without physically seeing your loved one, then you can outlast anything. If it’s a successful relationship, then it can prosper once that distance is no longer in question.
Before deliberating whether or not it is the right choice for you, give it a try. You never know, you might love the freedom and challenge of keeping the flame alive.