The scariest thing about distance isthat you don’t know whether they’ll miss you or forget you.
-Nicolas Sparks
Some statistics indicate that long-distance relationships have a 58% success rate, when the people involved live as close as 100 miles apart. One hundred miles is too close to qualify as long distance. These couples see each other a few days a week, speak on the phone every day and text often.
So, let’s get real. Let’s say a long-distance relationship means that they live at least 300 miles apart, and don’t see each other more than once a month for maybe six months. This seems like a better definition of a long-distance relationship to me and might give more accurate results in a reputable survey.
There are several different scenarios in which you could find yourself in a long-distance romance. Here are some of the more probable circumstances that might lead you down this hazardous path.
Significant Other Relocation
When you’ve been dating for some time, you’re suddenly torn apart due to a new job prospect or a family situation. You’ve already invested a lot into this love match and you don’t want it to end, so the decision is made for you to join him later. You have your own lose ends to tie up so you will have to be apart for a while.
Even though this is a trying situation you decide to make the best of it. You see each other every now and then, but most of your communication includes telephone calls, Facetime, and texting. If you really care about one another and mutually want this to work, it can, but time apart brings emotional distance. One of you might meet someone else or just give up on the futile lonely situation. It’s important to have realistic expectations, set goals and make future plans together to keep the fire burning.
Online Romance
When you connect online with someone on a dating site, or Facebook and it clicks. This person might live halfway across the country from you. As time goes by you talk on the phone or text and it seems like a love match. However, having never met in person you could have no chemistry. Perhaps you won’t like his mannerisms, his sense of style, or heaven forbid, he might not be attracted to you. How long should you continue this long-distance relationship? My opinion is to nip this one in the bud. Unless one of you is willing to relocate on a whim, there’s not much chance this bud will grow into a full bloom.
Cruise-ship
When you meet a fascinating person on a romantic holiday or cruise. You spend a lot of time together sight-seeing, having romantic dinners and enjoying each other’s company. Depending on your geographic locations, this could go either way. You already know that there’s a mutual attraction there and you both want to pursue your friendship to see if it can stay afloat. Keep in touch and remain open to the possibilities but be realistic. The odds are this is a sinking ship, but the right circumstances and a positive attitude could be a buoy to lift this ship right out of the water.
The possibilities are endless with a long-distance relationship. Just remember that putting yourself out there always leaves you open to the chance of heartbreak but where would you be if you didn’t at least make the effort? God works in mysterious ways, so trust that He will lead you in the right direction for a happy outcome.
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