Whether you just moved to a new city to pursue a different career, moved away for college, or you went across the world to study abroad, you know what it's like to be living without your best friends within driving distance. I have been best friends with six other girls from my hometown since 8th grade, but in 2011 we all went our separate ways and moved to different cities. We now live in Nashville, TN; Tulsa, OK; Springville, MO; Orlando, FL; Ann Arbor, MI; and Fairhope, AL. So all that said, reunions for all of us are very hard to make happen.
However, my best friends and I have worked very hard these past four years to maintain a thriving, tight friendship throughout the ups and downs of living hours and hours apart. By now, we have figured out the best ways to communicate and stay close, which has been amazing throughout these hard, growing years. Today I want to share a few tips on how to thrive in a long-distance BFF relationship because maintaining those relationships can be one of the greatest things in life.
Have a group text message
Being in a group text message with my best friends has kept us updated on each other very easily. We text about everything from outfit choices to relationships to new jobs to random jokes. It has been a way for us to feel as if we are together in person picking out clothes together or a way to vent when no one around can relate. It is a great way to share big and small moments with each other and celebrate the achievements in everyone's lives! We've also had a Facebook group message, a Groupme, and private blogs to keep each other up-to-date, so pick your favorite way of messaging your besties and go for it!
Skype to see each other's beautiful faces
Skype has the ability to do multiple calls at once, which is wonderful for a group of friends our size. We like Skyping every few months or so as a group to tell each other important things, see everyone's face, and take tours of newly decorated apartments or homes.
Force your best friends to get married (L O L)
JK, JK, JK --- This is a joke, but it has actually been one of the best things for our friend group in the past two years. All of my best friends are a couple years older than me, so two of them have already gotten married and one of them is engaged to be in December. Weddings and bachelorette parties bring all of us together at least twice a year, and they give us the reason to splurge on a plane ticket or a long road trip. We also have been able to explore Nashville, Tulsa, Destin, Gatlinburg, and New Orleans as a group because of our wedding-related get-togethers, and that's been extremely fun! So, look forward to your friends getting married, but until then try to be very intentional about having a few getaway weekends together throughout your year.
Bring back snail mail
One of my best friends is a DIY/ Lifestyle blogger, and one time she surprised each of us with handmade postcards. It was the most thoughtful surprise and made my day. Since then, I've sent them each a postcard from when I traveled in Europe, and others have sent random "thinking of you" letters just for fun. Nothing is better than checking your mailbox and getting snail mail from your best friends, so find a card and write them a note today (since you can't pass notes in class to each other anymore)!
Try to see one another as much as possible
Recently I drove from Nashville to Ann Arbor, Michigan with one of my best friends to help her move into her new home there. It was really just an excuse to have a 10-hour car ride and long weekend together. My friends and I try to find every excuse in the book to get together as much as possible. Sadly with a group our size, we aren't always able to have everyone there. If just three of us go to the beach together or plan a small trip with the invitation of "whoever can come, should come", it still turns out great just to have some time with one another no matter how many of us could make it.
Sometimes you find those special friends who will always be your best friends no matter what distance. Those friendships are worth enduring the separation! I wish you and your long-distance best friends the best of luck, and I hope you can use these tips to maintain a wonderful relationship no matter where you live.
