There are a lot of people who give long distance relationships a bad reputation. There’s also a big possibility that the people who advise against them have had a bad experience with it. “Oh, we grew apart,” “He found someone else,” “I didn’t like being apart.”

Whether it’s you, or your best friend, chances are that long distance relationships have happened or you’re considering it. I’m in a long distance relationship when winter or summer break rolls around and I probably will be until I graduate college. But while every relationship is different, here are some perks that come out of being away from the one you love.

Independence:

This may be one of the most important perks that come out of long distance relationships. Everyone has experienced having, or seeing a clingy relationship. NO ONE ENJOYS THAT. Being apart from the person you love helps you learn boundaries and how to fend for yourself. It also makes it easier to be apart and have separate lives outside of the relationship.

Travel:

Your significant other could live in a different part of the state, across borders, or across the globe. And with any kind of distance comes traveling. This means you can go new places, try new foods and meet new people. Also, having to travel to see someone means that you can take off from work or school every now and then for your own little holiday. When the person you love is your final destination, any traveling turns exciting.

Deep Conversations:

Hi. Hi. What’s up? Nothin hbu? Just Chillin’. Cool. Cool.

I can’t tell you how many couples have meaningless conversations because they see each other 24/7. When you are with someone all day, there isn’t much to talk about when you already do everything with them. But when you’re actually forced to communicate, great things can come out of it. I learned more about who my boyfriend was in the summer than I did in the entire time we dated before that.

Romantic Little Gifts:

This goes for both girls and guys. Being away from your person (yes that was a Grey’s Anatomy reference) will drive you crazy. When you think about them, and you always will, you’ll begin seeing little things that they’d love to have. This can be anywhere from a local t-shirt, to a personalized bracelet. Guys may send flowers; girls may send a jar of notes to open. It’s the little things that keep the love flowing.

Now this may immediately turn some of you off from long-distance relationships but read on to see why this is a good thing.

Intimacy:

When you are away from someone physically, you have to rely on deeper connections. This was as scary for me as it is for most people to have to deal with. But not being able to hug, kiss or touch someone also means that when you guys get to see each other after a long time, the kisses are better, the hugs are tighter and the hand holding is longer. Any hello or goodbye kisses are things from fairytales and they’re some of the best things out there; right next to cuddling.

If your relationship survives the distance, you will feel like a million bucks. It takes true love, patience, and communication to last. When you and your significant other finally reunite, everything will be stronger and you’ll know for a fact that there’s a reason you two are together.

So, good luck out there long distance-ers, I believe in you.