Being in a relationship is all good and fun until the sadness of distance steals our partners away. It happens to be the best decision for some people, for distance makes the heart grow fonder. Yet, for others, it’s a road to destruction.
A long-distance relationship (LDR), according to Wikipedia, is “a relationship is an intimate relationship between partners who are geographically separated from one another. Partners in LDRs face geographic separation and lack of face-to-face contact”.
How do we maintain a relationship divided by countless seas, road borders, and several miles apart?
Many people are skeptical about engaging in this type of relationship, presumably because of fear. We are not even certain about the people around us; how can we trust people far off. LDRs involve taking a leap of faith and believing at the end that it’ll be worth it.
Long-distance relationships can also stem up from a close physical relationship. A partner can decide to move for a job opening, educational advancement, and so on. Don’t restrict LDR to only relationships that exist without any formal physical establishment.
Married couples who live apart are also valid participants.
CONCERNS
Personally, I don’t feel any need to be extremely worried about these dynamics because the internet has made it easy. With every passing day, people fall in love via the web even before meeting physically. The resultant effect of this love match could be a wedding and a happily ever after.
CHALLENGES
Couples who are in the same space and locations naturally have issues. But for LDRs, peculiar issues include;
- Money issues
- Setting Standards and Limits
- Emotions
Money can be a very challenging aspect in maintaining a long-distance relationship. Cost of data and airtime for effective communications. Money to travel to see your loved one, especially when you are continents apart. LDR is financially demanding.
Another challenge is setting limits and having faith in your partner that he/she knows when to cross the line. How much is too much? Especially involving opposite genders. There is a big fear of losing one’s partner, the risk of another involvement or “entanglement” as used today. These pose a major problem in LDR.
Lastly, when distance is involved, they cannot communicate certain feelings and emotions via smart devices. There are this happiness and feelings that come from holding your partner, seeing them smile, and just being beside time at some point. No words, no movement, just you and your favorite person. How can you achieve this when you are physically apart?
What you Expect and What you Get
Long distant relationships are often breeders of extremists. More of love, jealousy, excitement, and even anger. These excesses can either destroy the relationship or create a greater bond. That is, it could lead to frequent fighting and arguments, disappointing moments, and even a heightened sense of love feelings.
As the popular saying goes, different strokes for different folks. If you are not comfortable with the idea, don’t bother indulging in the act. To avoid breaking anybody’s heart. If you are capable and willing, do you. Avoid naysayers who only speak negativity. I am sure some people have succeeded.
The distance will, in general, make couples less physical in terms of engaging in activities, but as far as we might be concerned, it doesn’t make them fail or break up. Keeping up successive and open lines of correspondence and cultivating trust and positive feelings is good enough for sustenance. You want to talk, call.
The resources are available use them and enjoy a successful relationship. In all, it is necessary to keep a positive mindset.
