Two months ago I posted "Give Me One Good Reason," which listed 10 reasons for having a long distance relationship. A young Belgian guy recently wrote to me, saying he had just spent a summer getting to know and falling in love with a young woman, then had to part ways. I was moved by his emotional bravery and determination to make things work out despite the distance apart, among many other obstacles I'm sure they're facing.
And then I remembered...this is the end of summer when many travelers and students are returning home from their vacations. This is the time when the lucky, (and some might think cursed, but I prefer blessed) few who have fallen in love during past weeks or months must now say an uncertain farewell to each other. They don't know when and where they'll see each other again, but they know in their hearts and souls they are meant to be together and want to do everything in their power to make it happen.
After all, how often does it happen in a person's life that he or she falls so absolutely in love? How often in life are we honored to take such a risk? How often does it happen that nearly every passing thought brings to mind your other half, or when you think of him or her, the butterflies in your stomach do a whirling dervish? Maybe once or twice if you're super lucky. It's not just a passing fancy or some kind of silly crush. It's a heavy aching and pounding in the heart and stomach that goes on almost non-stop for days, weeks, months, and sometimes years. It's an anxious feeling that something is terribly amiss because your partner is not by your side. Even hanging up the phone on good terms can be unsettling; you're left with the final words of your lover's voice resonating in your head until the next time you talk with him or her.
But, this is love. It's love with obstacles and challenges and lots of distance. Remember, even couples who live together have their own set of problems, but whether together or apart, only love (and a lot of effort and discipline on both sides!) determine whether they will pull through.
There are several things you might be experiencing if this is the first time you are apart. Some of these things might be frightening or confusing, but it doesn't necessarily mean there is something wrong with your long distance relationship, your partner, or with your own feelings of love. It just means you must learn a different way and routine for now, in which you can show each other on a daily basis how much you love and mean to each other.
Here are some things I felt the first time after my partner and I went our separate ways after spending 5 weeks getting to know each other and falling in love:
- Love
- Euphoria
- Grief
- Anxiety
- Uncertainty
- Fear of getting hurt
The last four points don't seem to coincide well with the first two points, but it makes sense that if you are truly, deeply in love with someone who you've just met and happens to live on another continent, then there is also going to be an element of uncertainty and fear associated with investing your heart, soul, time, and money on an incredibly special person and relationship, only to lose him or her. The stakes are much higher in long distance relationships compared to non-long distance relationships because of the added time and money as well as emotional investment needed to make this relationship work, especially in the beginning when you are trying to establish a firm foundation. Whether you are together or apart, losing the love of your life is preventable if the feelings for each other, attitudes, and goals are mutual.
The advice I gave to Tijl, the young Belgian gentleman, is that although it's great that they regularly videochat in the early morning or evening, he should also find other ways to "breathe" each other throughout the day so that become entwined in each other's daily life. It's easy to get swallowed up in studies, work, and friends to the point where, although unintentionally, one or both partners gets shut out. So it's important to make a huge effort, especially for now while the relationship is new, to make your partner a part of your all day life in small pockets of time throughout the day. My chapter (Cruising Altitude) in my book The Long Distance Relationship Guidebook is packed with ideas for doing this. I believe this way of thinking and acting is what helped me and my partner get through the long hauls (up to a year at a time) for so long.
Readers, feel free to drop me a line anytime if you just want a little moral support. I know what you're going through. Thanks for stopping by my long distance relationships blog!
Sylvia
Recent Comments