By Apple Teenie and Coco Bean
A University student leaves class and immediately dials her boyfriend on the phone. Although they get to talk frequently throughout the day, it’s been three months since they have seen each other. With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, many individuals on campus are eager to get home and reunite with their loved ones.
Everywhere there are couples crazy about each other and forced by circumstance to live apart. Millions of couples worldwide are coping with long distance relationships, also known as LDR’S, and this number is increasing daily. Love and relationships are what make life special, and ones built on love and understanding are always worth preserving, regardless of the miles that may separate the two people. Distance does not mean the end of a relationship; it is a test to see if the relationship can withstand difficulties that couples who live closer together do not have to go through. When couples make it through this test, they have made their relationship stronger and truly proven that their love is a serious thing. Often times, people do not give their relationships the chance to see if it can withstand time apart, and this is unfair.
Living apart strengthens a relationship. One of the biggest difficulties in long distance relationships is not being able to be physical and we don’t care what anyone says, men miss cuddling just as much as women; and women miss sex just as much as men! Time spent apart builds anticipation, and it makes every visit meaningful, memorable, and the sex is great! Furthermore, you learn to cherish the time together, and you’re reminded of how lucky you are to have each other. At times you may feel like you are losing faith in your relationship, but always remember to follow your heart and remind yourself that you are stronger than you realize.
Relationships should not be based on how much time you spend together, but rather the love you share, the bond you build and the mutual trust you have towards one another. These things are crucial to have a lasting, healthy relationship.
Yes, it is difficult learning to cope with saying goodbye again and again, but each time you say your farewells, just remind yourself that soon enough, you will have another amazing time together.
Here are some tips from AskMen.com on making a long distance relationship work:1) Make time: Set aside time in your day to keep each other updated on the details about your daily life-even some of the mundane things that happen during the day.2) Visit: Try to visit each other as often as you can; alternate turns so that one person isn’t doing all the traveling; this creates an equality.3) Plan ahead: Organize your schedule so when they come to visit, you are all theirs. It will be more fun to see them and it will make them feel more appreciated.4) Be thoughtful: Do sweet things that let them know you are thinking about them and missing them.5) Relax: Being apart is hard enough, don’t make it worse on yourself by assuming the worst. If they go out and meet new people, it doesn’t mean they are being unfaithful. Trust is key.6) Roll with the punches: If the separation is temporary, learn to be patient. Also, if the move looks like it’s going to be more permanent, talk now about what is going to happen.7) Love himher madly: The most important thing; you can’t just really like the person. With this and respect of each other’s individuality, this distance thing will be a breeze.
Long distance relationships can be a bumpy ride relying on phone calls as the only contact. (Photo credit iStockPhoto.com)