Fonder from afar

Long-distance relationships can be a very difficult situation to experience.

When it all is said and done, is it really worth it? Is it worth it to see that other person just once or twice a month? Well, they say one of two things: distance makes the heart grow fonder, or out-of-sight, out-of-mind.

I believe distance does make the heart grow fonder. The longer you go without seeing someone, the more you cherish the few times you do get to see them.

Since moving away to school I have been in a long-distance relationship. There’s a three and a half hour drive separating me from someone I used to spend almost every single day with. I am not going to tell you it was easy at first, because it wasn’t.

You have to find means of communication to keep you together. I have tried everything, because surviving on two-hour phone calls is going to get old and because your parents are not going to be very happy when they get that $400 phone bill; trust me, I have had it happen twice.

So after you get over the issue of how to communicate, you have to find ways to make it easier on yourself. I have found watching the same movies or TV shows at the same time helps a lot; it’s almost as if you’re together. And go back a few years and send hand-written letters, everyone likes getting mail.

It’s going to get hard, you just have to remember why you’re doing it. Some people will not be able to handle it, others will be just fine. If you care about that other person enough you will have no issues.

I believe distance makes the heart grow fonder. It teaches you how to live on your own without someone constantly by your side and it also teaches you how to take nothing for granted.

Luckily, living in the world we do today, you can see each other almost anytime you want through a computer. No, it’s nothing like actually being there but it helps. I believe it is worth it and distance can only make you stronger.

If you care about someone that much, distance is just like any problem you encounter and adjust to. You will learn to appreciate those moments you do spend together, and even those $400 phone bills will be worth it in the end. n