Long Distance Love

1). Accept Change
Your relationship is going to be different than it was when you were together. Not necessarily, a “bad” different, but be flexible and open to change, for it is inevitable.

2). Recognize That Communication is Key
This is true even when your sweetie is close to you, but holds an irreplaceable importance when you are far apart. Don’t keep any relationship problems you’re having to yourself. The sooner the issue is resolved, the less resentment you will build toward your boyfriend/girlfriend. I’ve told the boy that “our whole relationship is based on communication now.” People these days are busy, whether it’s working from the office, running errands, or maintaining an active social life. No one has the time or patience to sit by the phone waiting for their call with bated breath. That being said...

3). Set Up a Schedule
Sure, spontaneity is romantic, but with the aforementioned busy schedules, a couple really needs to have a time period to sit down and talk for at least an hour. And just to make the separation a little more bearable, I suggest getting a web-chat account with Skype or iChat. Make sure that time is YOUR time. Sit in a quiet place and focus, really LISTEN to each other. And when you are not talking to each other, send cute little texts during your lunch break to let the significant other know that they aren’t very far from your mind.

4). Surprises are the best ever
Talking every day becomes kind of habitual, and can feel like a chore sometimes, and also just saying “I love you,” doesn’t really compare to actually showing it. Send a bouquet of Lilies of the Valley, write a heartfelt love note snail-mail style or leave a singing telegram in their voicemail. Maybe a sexy text message or email…why not? Do fun, light-hearted things that break you from your norm and send a really strong message.

I’m not an expert. I feel funny giving advice, because I feel like readers are glaring at me through the computer screen going “What in the hell do you know about anything?” Not much, really. But I’m in the middle of this situation, and I feel it’s therapeutic for me to share my feelings and a few things that I have learned.