This post comes to you after a conversations I've had with a bunch of people, from strangers to family to friends.
You've gone on so many dates with more local guys than you can count. You could probably fill a book with how many dud dates you've been on. Then this really awesome guy messages you. You talk for hours upon hours, day after day. Then BAM you realize you've fallen for someone clear across the country or the world. Well shit. Now what? Now you're faced with the dreaded long distance relationship scenario.
The interweb has a way of making us feel so close, yet so far from people. It's a curse and a blessing. Online dating brings so many people together in one virtual space where everyone is simultaneously looking for their chance at true love at the same time. That sounded kinda corny and out of character, but you get what I'm saying. Sometimes that person who you finally made a deep connection with, is far. The kind of far that has you catching a red eye flight on Virgin Atlantic. Which I just learned has free booze even for economy seats. Kudos to Virgin who know what the people want!!
Random people and friends have asked me, "Well, isn't a long distance relationship hard? I don't think I could do that."
My answer? Yes, it is hard. It's incredibly hard. Arguably one of the hardest things you may ever have to do in your entire life. You'll have to compromise, a lot. You'll have to be ready to work, tirelessly. You have to be ready to accept that you may only get to hug them a few times a year. That a weekend is all you get to pack in the memories, pictures and playful flirting. You'll have to work through miscommunications and nights or days when you just don't talk, because...well life. You'll have to accept that you can't drive to their house at the drop of a dime when life really sucks and all you want is a tub of ice cream and a cuddle. You'll become an expert navigator at your local airport (actually, that may be a perk. lol). Be ready to face insecurities, jealousy issues,and trust issues head on.
So all that sucks. Why the hell would anyone want to put themselves through that? Well to be honest, I don't know. However, talk to anyone in a long distance relationship and they will likely say something along the lines of "Well I love him/her, so it's worth it." Yes it's scary (and expensive). The odds aren't staked in your favor. Sometimes it does feel like you're more likely to be asked to become a member of The Justice League than actually making a long distance relationship work. But, it is worth it...usually. If anything you will learn so much about yourself as a person, that you probably wouldn't have gotten from any other relationship.
I've had two long distance relationships. The first one ended terribly. The second one is a story in the making. It's difficult, to say the least. There are things that I have to work on. Have I accepted everything I said above? Most of them I have. I've had time to accept them. I'm working on some of the points I made though. What I can tell you is for me, it's worth it, 100%. In short, he makes me happy and that's really all that matters at the end of the day.
And yes, I met him online. Back in the day when it was quite common to see the letters 'a/s/l' at the beginning of a conversation.
Moral of the story? If you find someone who you you've fallen for and you're faced with the prospects of a long distance relationship, give it a shot. Plunge into the unknown, sometimes the gifts it yields are larger than life.
Till next time,
happy hunting
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| This picture was so awkward, I had to share it. |
