Top 10 Ways to Survive a Long-Distance Relationship

"Absence makes the heart grow fonder."

I often find myself thinking about this quote. Sure, it’s profound and knowledgeable. I’m also certain that the person who wrote it truly believed what they said. However, I have to think …

Yeah. Right.

I wonder if the person who first said this had ever actually been a part of a long-distance relationship. Did they even know the real absence to which people relate this quote?

I had a conversation about this just recently. Both of us being in long-distance relationships, we discussed the quote’s validity and how our relationships are able to tolerate the stretch of space. The discussion resulted in the following:

Channeling the infamous David Lettermen for your enjoyment and our sanity, I give you:

The Top 10 Ways to Survive a Long-Distance Relationship

10. Some form of webcam.
Skype, Gtalk. The new iPhone. It’s obvious for anyone in this day and age, but nevertheless, it needs to be said.

9. Frequent flyer miles, or fuel perks depending on the distance you travel. Oh, how quickly those expenses accumulate.

8. Blogging. Venting can be hard to listen to at times, especially if you don’t see what they’re ranting about or don’t understand it. An online journal can provide one-sided therapy that your loved one can read at their own convenience (i.e. when they miss you, when they have time or when they can put forth the brain cells to understand it.)

7. Flower delivery. It’s a beautiful thing, when used sparingly. I’ve always liked Michelle's Enchanted Floral and in North Canton. Say, isn’t Valentine’s Day coming up?

6. Creativity. Have date nights, build collections on the road and compete in scavenger hunts. Using creativity can keep things from being dull. What about an ongoing board game like Scrabble or chess, where each person has a board set up in a corner of the room, and every time you talk, you move one piece? You’d be surprised how fun these can get.

5. Texting. For the little "I love you" notes when you can’t devote three hours to a conversation.

4. Snail mail. Never underestimate the feeling you get from a letter bearing your name, without asking for money in return.

3. Open communication. Know your boundaries and expectations. Communication will foster trust, both in your other half and yourself.

2. Have your own life as well. You need to have your own friends, your own job, your own hobbies and your own piece of mind. You can’t wait around the phone all day for someone to call.

1. PICTURES. Of you. Of local haunts you visit. Of places you’d like to explore. Of odd signs you see on back roads. Of the elderly gentleman wearing the bright red, metallic high tops outside of Sally’s. (Don’t knock that one, I’ve seen him several times.) While you live your own life, keep them included with pictures. After all, a picture’s worth a thousand words, right?