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Read This If You’re Struggling With A Long Distance Relationship

Chris and I met in April of 2015 via Facebook. This past April we celebrated three years together. But this past year was challenging for Chris and me. Life continues in between the lapses of distance when you’re in a long-distance relationship.

But what makes it harder is when you’re both going through something and you can’t just simply show up at one another’s doors for comfort. And if I am being completely honest, I questioned the survival of our relationship in this year alone because I felt too helpless, and at times beaten and defeated by the challenges being thrown at us. It is also during this time, Chris and I found communication a bit harder than usual.

Which brings me to the first of many lessons that came into the light for me. I have always been the type to communicate and express what I am feeling at the moment and I realize now more than ever is how important that is to continue communicating what I am feeling. I have found that by me doing this, making a conscious effort it helps Chris know what’s going on.

Chris always says that there is always room for improvement. That is a very true statement. No matter the circumstances or situation, if the person and your relationship are important to you, you make an honest and decent effort on keeping it at the top of the priorities list. The next thing I found to be important- knowing all the facts. Now granted, this one in my case is tricky because I essentially have to work with what I am being told, instead of what I am seeing. This is where Chris and I have been struggling, but I know he believes he’s doing it for the right reasons.

The other thing I have come to realize is that protecting one another emotionally is vital. The physical protection that is not being met because of the distance. Which also makes this a very delicate balancing act of listening, being supportive, and making general observations and suggestions. I am generally a very emotional person, to begin with, and because of that I react based on my emotions. It’s what I like to call my own red panic button.

Chris is the first person I have met outside my family that I have ever felt I could be 100% myself without hesitating, over-thinking and analyzing. Instead, I have used those habits to help me figure out how we can help one another from a distance until the distance is erased. One of the difficult things about being in a long-distance relationship is how people can complicate a situation simply because they lack understanding and common sense.

They say that trials from God can turn into testimonies in the end. And despite feeling increasingly overwhelmed by these tests, I know Chris and I will prevail. Despite all of the unfathomable sacrifices and challenges. The strength this will give us at the end will be well worth it simply for the fact you have to get through the storm to feel the warmth of the sun again. But before we can see the sun and the rainbow overhead, we need to wait out all this rain.

This rain will bring about our strong roots and makes unmovable and unstable in whatever life throws at us as a couple from here on. This rain in this particular season for us will only help us become more prepared for whatever life decides to throw at us next.  As long as we have one another we can get through anything. Because we both know that we are better together than apart from one another.

Featured image via Jeremy Banks on Unsplash

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