Long distance relationships stink, plain and simple. They are hard, they require a lot of time and commitment, and videochats with spotty wifi are about the most frustrating things in the entire world. I have been in this long distance relationship for three months now, and it is the best thing that has ever happened to me.
The saying goes "Distance makes the heart grows fonder," and as cliché as it sounds, that statement couldn't be any more true. While studying abroad in Ireland this past semester, I have been in a long distance relationship with someone from back home. It hasn't been easy I will tell you that much. Time zones are a pain in the butt, not being able to communicate 24/7 is sometimes a struggle, and not having your best friend by your side when you're having a rough day is hard. But the lessons I have learned from this experience outweigh the hardships.
When you are so far away from the person you love, you learn so much about yourself. You get to be completely independent, but never alone. You are able to grow into the best version of yourself, by yourself, but someone gets to witness you change for the better. You learn that you can get by in this world on your own, but that life is always better to have someone by your side.
You learn how much someone can mean to you. You truly get to see the impact someone else has had on your life when they aren't there. You cherish the hour or so you get to talk about your day over video chat, more than you would if you could sit next to each other. The little things like their laugh, their smile, or their tears are so much more impactful.
You learn to love them for who they are. You don't get to fall in love with the way they hug you, but instead with the way they view the world. You fall in love with the way the dream, and all their plans to achieve these dreams. You learn that a person's morals and what makes them human, are worth so much more than their physical attributes.
You learn how much you can impact another. You get to see how they grow without you around, and you learn about the little things you do that mean so much to someone else. You learn how much your off tune scream-singing in the car was the one thing that could always put a smile on their face. You learn that working out, and getting sweaty and smelly at the gym together was their favorite pass time.
You care more. You care about their well-being and health since you aren't there to take care of them. You care more that they smile at least once every single day since you aren't there to see it. You care that they make it home safe every night, since you cant ensure that they get there.
Don't get me wrong, I would give anything to be having all these experiences abroad with the person I love. But when life gives you lemons, you have to learn to make lemonade. Instead of dreading our time apart, I have chosen to focus on the lessons I have learned from the experience. And after these three months, our relationship has changed for the better, and there will be no better feeling that running into his arms in the airport.
