Long Distance Relationships From Both Sides

My boyfriend and I have been together for one whole year. We met March 25th, 2017 and spent four months getting to know each other before we said “let’s do this”. I lived in Richmond, Virginia while Reese lived in Norfolk. When I moved down to Norfolk to attend Old Dominion University, we decided to make things official and it has been one of the best decisions for us. I asked him seven questions found from different Q&As found online and these are our His and Hers answers.

How Did We Meet?

His: “I was hanging out at my friend’s house and she walked up with her cousin and I was like ‘oooh’ — her and her ugly Jesus sandals — and then she introduced herself. My first impression was that she was as cute as a button.”

Hers: “We met while I was at Old Dominion visiting my older cousin and low and behold, they had mutual friends. My cousin and I went to hang out with some of her friends and I was smitten by this cowboy who walked in the door. We stayed glued to the hip for the rest of the night and the rest is history.”

How Do You Maintain a Happy, Loving Relationship Despite the Distance?

His: “Always have consistent communication and thoughtful affection. Pay attention to one another’s needs. Always be patient too. Really as long as I talk to her enough, and figure out what she needs, we’re good.”

Hers: “I agree with having constant communication, but trips to go see each other definitely help the struggles throughout the distance. With us, you have to be able to still make fun of each other and joke around, too.”

Is There Anything You’d Advise Against Doing?

He’s: “Not updating each other isn’t ideal. Make sure you don’t tempt yourself outside of your significant other. Don’t get so busy you don’t make time for the other person. Don’t be ignorant of the other person’s lifestyle and how it may have changed.”

Hers: “Don’t cheat on one another. Don’t resent one another for whatever cause of the distance. Always be truthful and understanding. Reese always has the good answers!”

Does Distance Increase Certain Problems?

His: “Yes it does. You can’t personally interact with the other person to know what the true emotions are so the dynamic changes.”

Hers: “Yes, you go through highs and lows and points of doubt with long-distance relationships. It’s most difficult for me when I’ve had a bad day and I can’t hug Reese or curl up on the couch with him to talk.”

What is One Benefit of Long Distance?

His: “It does give you a lot of independence while remaining in a reliable, romantic relationship.”

Hers: “You learn independence, better communication, and you learn the value of time together. I really feel like I’ve matured while being in a long distance relationship.”

What is Something You’ve Learned About Yourself?

His: “That I’m patient. I’ve learned to be more insightful and understanding.”

Her: “I learned to value the little things and I learned to be independent while still being someone’s right hand and vise versa.”

Tell Us a Romantic or Happy Moment in Your Relationship

His: “The day I asked her to be my girlfriend was probably the happiest moment, alongside when we told each other that we loved each other.”

Hers: “A happy and romantic moment from our relationship would have to be when I told him I was in love with him. I beat him to it and he apparently had something extra special planned for it, but instead I got to it first!”

Statistics of Our Long Distance Relationship

Norfolk, Virginia to Loudoun County, Virginia – 231 miles (3 hours and 40-ish minutes)

We visit each other roughly once a month

We call each other twice a week, but still text very regularly

Many ask us how long we think we’ll be in a long distance relationship. I know I will most likely be in Norfolk for school until 2021, unless I graduate early, and Reese’s life currently is up in Northern Virginia so we are still figuring out when we’ll be back in the same town full time.

• college relationships
• ldr
• long distance