I'm a Relationshipaholic
By Gia, age 18, Florida
Sweet Designs Staff Intern
Sweet Designs Featured Writer
First off, my best friend Katina is not just a friend - she is my long lost sister. We have been friends for fourteen years. We met in pre-k and it has been a crazy ride. But now she lives in North Carolina, while I am stuck here in blazing hot Florida. For most people, that would strain a friendship, but not for us. We are in a long distance friendship. We are no longer five minutes away from each other - no more sleepovers or late night raids of my kitchen. We have never gone this long without seeing each other, and in all honesty this is so challenging. I have gone through so much with her, and vice versa. Now knowing she is hundreds of miles away until we start college (when we'll only be an hour apart) doesn't get any easier.
My other relationship that is about to become long distance is with my boyfriend Dennis. We have been together for a great deal of time (by high school relationship standards) - eight months - but soon we'll be put to the ultimate test. Dennis and I live about fifteen minutes apart by car. But come August when I make the move to college I will be four hours away - big difference!
One of our biggest obstacles will be trust, but that's true for all relationships. Lying is easy to do, especially when one person isn't in the same area as the other. I am not even close to being a good liar, so instead of winging it I have come up with a few guidelines for making both of these relationships stay intact.
1. Stay in contact. Pretty obvious, I know. Get a web cam, a Skype account, anything, to let the other person hear your voice and have a conversation.
2. Plan phone dates so the two of you can stay in the loop of each other's lives. Keep them updated with the good and the bad.
3. 100% honesty. For the best friend - if you think she is not thinking clearly and asks your opinion, tell her. She is your best friend, and she will thank you. For the boyfriend - if something happens and you feel he needs to know, then tell him. If he loves you he will understand.
4. Do not get jealous of new friends and pick fights. You are not being replaced! We all need to make friends in our new situation.
Each relationship is different - some will survive and some will not. One thing to keep in mind though. Do not blame the distance. To make the relationship work, put in the effort. If you really want it, it will work.
