Going the Distance

I decided that I really wanted to open up this blog post to hear other people's opinions/stories/advice on the topic of long-distance relationships. If you can't comment directly on the blog, feel free to comment on Facebook! Now that I've gone past the two week mark of being apart from Brian, things have clearly switched from "Beth is just away for a couple weeks" to the reality of being away for 4 months. Now, I know that for some couples, 4 months apart is common, or not that long. But for Brian and I, the longest we've ever been apart previous to this trip was 2 weeks, and so I think that that's why this week has suddenly been so hard on us. We realize that this is a long haul, and while Skype is incredible, it can also be very frustrating to be able to see the person's face and hear their voice, yet not be able to touch them or hug them or kiss them.

It's harder for me to sympathize with Brian's emotions, because I feel that he still has his family and friends and normal life surrounding him, while I have faced an entirely new life all on my own. However, I have to remember that he's bored with doing the same old things while I experience so much and travel. It's led to frustration, but I've decided that this trip is a great opportunity for us to learn to communicate exactly what we're feeling, because if not, there are 4500 miles that separate us and that could easily lead to us distancing ourselves from each other. So here's to improving communication! (what every guy loves to hear, right?).

I think that there are unique challenges in being long distance, because while it's incredibly difficult for me to suddenly be long distance after living in the same city as my boyfriend for 2.5 years, I also can see the difficulty in being together in the same city if the relationship began long distance. Whereas I am used to sharing so much of my life with Brian, or at least having the convenience of calling and texting 24/7, when you get used to being long distance, it probably feels very different when you do move to the same city and begin sharing all of your life with your significant other.

In some ways, it feels freeing to know that I can do all of the same things with or without Brian. I am still outgoing and adventurous and motivated. However, if it ended there, it would seem that there's no reason for us to be together. But the thing is, although I can still do all of these things, I simply enjoy every minute of life more when I share it with him. And right now, I think it's good for us to grow as individuals while we're apart, but ultimately, every moment is more beautiful, exciting, and fulfilling when he's there with me. And truly, I don't know if I could have done many of the things that I have without him, where he has supported, encouraged, and held me through some of the most painful times in my life. And that is what this is all about for me. My life is made complete (cliche, but true!) with him in it, and while I know that I am still Beth whether I'm single or not, I know that I am a better person with Brian in my life and because of Brian.

What experiences have you had in long distance relationships? What were some of the hardest times about it? And what were the most rewarding?