Re: Similar Experiences/Relationships IRL
Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2012 11:53 pm
Long-distance relationships have their own rewards, but they are absolutely farking brutal. Certainly they are not something a person should seek out, but they can be survivable should circumstances make them necessary, as long as a few things are kept in mind.
And who am I to say all this? Just someone who survived six years in a long-distance relationship. Neither one of us ever wants to do that again, but damned if it wasn't worth it: we've now been married for longer than the long-distance aspect lasted. As a matter of full disclosure, you should know that we broke two of the above rules, though I'd rather not say which ones; just learn from our mistakes.
- Long-distance relationships are serious business, capitalized, boldface, blinking, bright red, quadruple-underlined, and with a font size no smaller than ten times that of the surrounding text. You don't have to be engaged, but don't even try entering into a long-distance relationship with someone you would not seriously consider marrying.
- There absolutely must be a "goal": something clear that, once it happens, will allow you to be together again. This might be a fixed date (for example, the end of a military tour of duty), or it might be some kind of accomplishment (like graduating). The important thing is that an end be in sight; an indefinite long-distance relationship is all but hopeless, because the end is hope.
- Both of you need to actively work toward the goal in whatever ways you are able. It might be that the only thing one person can do is provide support to the other person, but even this is still of vital importance. Aside from hastening the goal along, it helps to strengthen the bond and reassure both partners of its strength. The importance of this cannot be overestimated.
- Set clear boundaries, preferably before the long-distance aspect of the relationship begins. Boundaries that get broken (even -perhaps especially- unintentionally) can kill any relationship, but when distance complicates things it gets far more dangerous. The exact extent and strictness of the boundaries is up to you; what matters is that both partners know exactly what they are.
- Communicate, communicate, communicate. Exactly how you do this is up to you, but stay in as close contact as you reasonably can. With each new advance in telecommunications, long-distance relationships become easier to maintain, but those options have to be used.
And who am I to say all this? Just someone who survived six years in a long-distance relationship. Neither one of us ever wants to do that again, but damned if it wasn't worth it: we've now been married for longer than the long-distance aspect lasted. As a matter of full disclosure, you should know that we broke two of the above rules, though I'd rather not say which ones; just learn from our mistakes.