I’m not going to sugarcoat it: Being in a long distance relationship sucks. Even when the relationship is good—even when you are madly in love with someone and are absolutely certain that the distance it worth it—it still sucks, because all that goodness and all that love just make it that much harder to be apart. I should know; I was in a long distance relationship (or an LDR, if you’re fancy) for two years, when my now-husband, then-boyfriend had a fellowship in the UK, and I was finishing my grad degree in California. This was not an LDR for the faint of heart: California and England are 5,400 miles, a 12-hour flight, and 8 time zones apart. Ouch.
But we made it work. Lots of people do. In fact, 14 million couples in the U.S. are in LDRs right now. A long distance relationship, no matter the specifics of each one, is invariably an educational experience for the people involved. I’m not going to go so far as to say that going through a period where you have distance between you is good for a relationship, because it’s actually terrible and I hope I never have to do it again. But there are some important lessons to be learned, about yourself, your partner, and your relationship, lessons that come in handy when you’re (FINALLY) back together.
Note: This list might bring back traumatizing memories of endless LDRs for some readers, so I’ve included puppies to take the edge off. You’re welcome.