Celebrating Everything... Including Long Distance

For the past 2 years and 10 months, I have been lucky enough to fall more and more in love with a boy who keeps falling more and more in love with me. I'm young and have been blessed with such a loving relationship with someone who is so caring and treats me absolutely wonderful. One aspect that makes our connection so strong, is being apart.

Sounds cliche, right? Well, it's true! Long distance, or what people may consider to be long distance, can really build a relationship and bring the couple together. Since my boyfriend is one year older than me, we already experienced him being at a local(ish) university and not living at home where I was. That's when he was 30 minutes away - now he's 90 minutes away (on a good day). Here's how having this "long distance" relationship has strengthened our relationship and brought us even closer together.

First of all, I'd like to say that I don't consider myself to be in a long distance relationship. There is definitely some time and many miles between the two of us, but nothing impossible. It doesn't need to be a huge, planned out event in order of us to see each other. We can simple get on a bus or drive up or down to spend quality time together.

The beginning of our relationship and our relationship now are two totally separate things. We have grown together, experiencing new people, food, events, and places, both positive and negative. Of course, we still have that same loving passion that we had over two years ago, but we have matured more than I believe either of us have realized.

Our first picture together, January 2011 

Recent photo of us, September 2013

When we first started dating, we lived 12 minutes apart and saw each other every day at school. It was nice, and it was that way for two years. Then university came, and Chris left for school (Chris is my boyfriend, for anyone who isn't aware). Luckily he was only a short(ish) drive away - 30 minutes once I reached the freeway. Now that I'm attending a university up north, our drive is three times as long and much farther. It was a major change, but we had the opportunity to take baby steps and ease our way into this "long distance" relationship.

Us being apart makes our time together so special. We spend so much time laughing, playing, sharing, and embracing each other in a way we didn't before. A new appreciation comes with not being able to see someone you love so much as often as you'd like. It's nice knowing that I always have that person a couple of hours away that I can come see if I need to and can get away from where I live. There's a spark in long distance relationships that somehow isn't ignited the same way short distance relationships are lit.

Here are some tips on my experience on how to make a long distance relationship work, from our experiences!

• Don't constantly be talking. Take the time to get to know people around you, and spend quality time with those people and doing other things. It makes catching up when you're together, on the phone, or messaging so fulfilling and leaves you with so much to share!
• Compromise and take turns. Don't make (or allow) one person in the relationship to be the only one traveling, paying, etc. Alternate weekends or days during the month where you see each other on where you go! If your significant other visits one trip, you visit them the next! It's fair and avoids conflict. Plus, you have the benefit of experiencing the socialization and atmosphere at both places!
• Communicate values and expectations. If you two plan on being exclusive, make it clear what that means to both of you. If flirting is not okay with you, let your partner know! It's unfair to make assumptions that your partner is or isn't okay with the same things as you.
• Be patient and understanding. Being apart from each other is hard, especially at first. Don't let that ruin the times you spend together. Not being together makes the times you do get to see each other so rewarding and truly special. 
• Assume the best intention. I know I said earlier not to make assumptions, but if your boyfriend or girlfriend accidentally says something that might be hurtful or offensive, try to understand that they most likely didn't mean for it to be offensive. Sometimes being apart can cause couples to become a little more sensitive - that's okay! Just be aware that sometimes more emotions are involved and feelings are a little more tender than usual.

Long distance is definitely a journey in its own. It can takes days, weeks, months, or even years to get used to or become comfortable. Don't worry about that - everyone develops at their own pace. Even though I'm not entirely long distance the way many other couples are, it's still nice knowing that I can talk to others who are in long distance relationships and share our thoughts and feelings. I hope these had some significance to someone out there! Have a great day and good luck on all your relationships out there.

Cheers!