Long Distance Love

My advice: don't.

Relationships are hard enough as it is. When you throw in a huge obstacle like distance, things just get that much more tricky. Not only does the couple have to deal with normal relationship issues, like commitment and communication, they have to deal with the stress of living far apart.

Why do long-distance relationships (LDR's) fail? People are so caught up in the romance of the situation that they don't look at the practical side of things. Ready to go myth-busting?

LDR MYTHS

Absence makes the heart grow fonder - No, it just makes it confused. You have no idea what your "partner" is doing - they're so far away, it could be anything! You can't really share in their day-to-day life; and you usually can't just pick up and go see them on a whim.

Proximity breeds contempt - Actually, according to psychology, proximity breeds likeness. When you can spend quality face-to-face time with each other, you get to know each other much better. This is how you determine if this person could be your life-mate or not.

It's better to know someone's mind alone - We are physical beings. There has to be chemistry. If you aren't around your sweetheart, you have no idea what the chemistry is going to be like. Mind, body, heart, soul, spirit - all are necessary for understanding, if you're seeking a marriage relationship.

Modern technology makes it easy - E-mail can't replace physical contact. A phone call isn't the same as looking into someone's eyes. It's easy to pretend to be someone you're not when you're a thousand miles away.

LDR TRUTHS

Out of sight, out of mind - Often, either one half or both halves of an LDR continue to date other people locally. If their faraway sweetheart isn't around, they may forget the feelings they share.

Meetings mean sex - Many LDR couples are so physically deprived (due to the distance) that when they do meet, they leap into each other's arms (beds). Sex causes a rush of feel-good chemicals, making you think you're in love when perhaps you're just in lust.

The cost of love - A lot of LDR's fail because the couple just can't afford the traveling expenses to see each other. The further away you are, the more dangerous your LDR is.

Obsession - Mainly women are guilty of this, but some men are, too. Your honey is far away and you can't see or talk to them every day; you sink into obsession, always wondering what they're doing and wishing you could be near them.