Connect with your other half in any possible way
Long distance relationship has never been easy. It requires courage and self-belief that you can be on your own, while your other half is hundred or thousand miles away, doing something beyond your sight. You gather information about your other half only from what he says to you; you can’t see who he hangs out with, where he goes, his values, his love to you, etc. In other words, your observation means of him and ways of connecting with him are limited, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy the relationship.
Long distance relationship can be as rewarding as the normal-traditional relationship. It has its own enjoyment. The most important thing in both kind of relationship is the connectedness between you two, regardless of he is here or there. My suggestion is use any possible means to connect with your other half. These are some of my ways that can give you some ideas:
1. Google Latitude!!!
With this application, provided that your phones have GPS feature, you can actually detect each other’s location in timely manner. It doesn’t mean that you should check him and investigate him where he goes. It just gives you a sense of closeness knowing where he is, and sometimes, you know that he is home safely. On the weekends, my bf usually comes home drunk and exhausted and forgets to let me know that he’s home. Thanks to googlemap that tells me he’s safely home. Sometimes too, if you’re wondering why your bf doesn’t pick up your phone, just check him where he is, and you kinda know what he is doing, instead of being anxious and impatient to wait for him. You will know that he is already at the workplace and can’t take your call. Google latitude reduces the level of ‘wondering’ between you two.
2. Skype.
Maximise the use of skype, not only for 10 min call, but let your skype on, if possible, 24 hours, even when you are away from your desk. You don’t need to talk for 24 hours. My boyfriend and I always let our skype open, even when we are sleeping. We don’t necessarily talk the whole day and night, it just gives us a sense that the other person is around and he’s there if you wanna talk to him. The point is, keep the skype open when you two are home, even if you two don’t talk.
3. Emails on your phone.
Texting is cumbersome and costly. You can’t write a lot and you have to pay for a text, while with email, you can always write as long as you want without thinking how much you will pay, it’s usually already included in your data plan or internet subscription. Make sure that you can send and receive emails like receiving sms on your phone, and the other person’s phone too. Send each other interesting pics, links, news of anything you see, hear, listen, feel, etc.
Other things you should do when you are in a LDR are:
Always let each other know what we are doing, even if you think it’s not important, such as I’m reading news, I’m going to the toilet, etc. Let each other know as well, where we go and with whom. It doesn’t mean that we don’t trust each other, it’s just a way to build the closeness. Well, it actually reduces a possible distrust that might arise too.
Communicate anything. If you don’t feel right, tell the other person, as well as, if you are happy, show your appreciation towards your partner. Make sure that you don’t complain about the distance between you two over and over. Many couples are trapped in telling each other what they should do with the distance, their worries, their sadness because of the distance, etc. The distance is there, one of you has made the decision that makes you apart and you two should know the consequence from the beginning. Talk about it once, make a stand, and let it go. You don’t need to talk about it over and over, the distance will still be there.
Be committed, build the trust. If you don’t trust your partner, give yourself time. Trusting isn’t an easy matter in a LDR. If you can’t trust the other person, it’s ok, but make sure you are working on building the trust everyday. You might not trust him now, but you should trust him at some point in time. You don’t want to be worried and anxious all the time, do you? Trust also does good to you.
When I entered my LDR, it wasn’t easy either. I didn’t know what to do, a lot of uncertainties, a lot of worries, a lot of discomfort, but over the time, it’s really worth the effort, especially if the other person is the right person for you.
Good luck for the lone lovers out there.. Believe that love can travel the distance :-)
