If you've never been in a long-distance relationship, count yourself lucky. Maintaining a long-distance relationship is one of the toughest things I've had to do, and I'm no stranger to the LDR. BUT… despite the difficulties, there is a silver lining that comes along with being separated from your person.

First, let's get the cons out of the way…

CON: You're far away from your favorite person.

CON: Being apart means no hugs when you're just really in need of a hug from your person.

CON: Being far away from your person means you probably talk less. Not on purpose, its just how it goes sometimes when you live two very different lives, sometimes in different time zones.

CON: Not being able to talk as much most likely puts a strain on your relationship

CON: There will likely be a minor disconnect because of the strain put on your communication, especially if your communication is mainly reliant on text messaging.

CON: Hopefully there isn't, but if there is an argument and it has to happen over text, things will be misconstrued.

CON: However much you miss your person, you likely can't just pick up and go see them for an hour or two to get your fill for the day.

CON: Traveling to see your person is probably expensive or takes a long time, or both.

There are some more cons to long-distance relationships, especially unique to each individual relationship because every relationship is different, but the pros definitely outweigh the cons and make it all worthwhile.

So, what are some of those pros to the LDR, you ask?

PRO: Despite not seeing each other in person very often, seeing your person's face on facetime feels like the best present ever.

PRO: Same with hearing your person's voice. Couldn't ask for anything better.

PRO: Sending gifts to your person, even if its something small, for their birthday, Valentine's Day, Christmas, or just because you saw something that reminded you of them not only makes you happy, but it reminds your person how much you love and think about them.

PRO: On the other side of that coin, surprise presents from your person let you know they're thinking about you and each one is like hug from far away.

PRO: Love letters! Sure, you could send a love letter to your person even if he or she is just one town over but getting a letter from your person hundreds of miles away can make your heart skip a beat and swell with happiness.

PRO: Saving money! Don't get me wrong, I'd take a weekly date with my person over saving some money any day, but there is something to be said about saving your dollars because you can't exactly go out to dinner every weekend for date night.

PRO: You can take that money you save and actually save it, OR you can put it towards something big for your person like a really special gift you've been wanting to buy them. Or maybe you both can save money and put it towards a vacation for your eventual reunion. Speaking of reunions…

PRO: Every time you see your person is twenty times more special because you haven't seen them in so long.

PRO: All of the memories you make together are more easily remembered because they are more special. AND there are fewer days for those special memories to get lost in when you don't see each other every day or every week.

PRO: Counting down the days until you get to see your person again. Crossing off each day on the calendar feels like little individual hurdles until the finish line.

PRO: Long-distance relationships can be just as strong (or stronger) than non-long-distance relationships. Just because your relationship is an LDR doesn't mean it's doomed from the start.

Long-distance relationships are hard, believe me, and they are definitely not for everyone, but if you care for and love someone enough to be willing to put in real work and effort to maintain and support a relationship with miles and miles between you, you can make it work. Long-distance relationships put your relationship to the test, but any couple can weather that storm if both people are committed to each other and to maintaining their relationship. While there are some difficulties to an LDR, and you may hit some hiccups along the way, withstanding the distance, whether it be because of school, work, deployment, family matters, and anything in between, will always be worth it to come home to see your favorite person waiting for you at the end of a long time spent apart.