How to Survive a Long Distance Relationship

Hey guys! At one point in life we all go through hard times in relationships. One relationship that I can definitely relate to is a long distance relationship. A long distance relationship is not for all couples. Everyone cannot handle it. I am one of those people who can't but I still have to go through it because I love my boyfriend. I honestly think he handles this better than me but here are a few tips that I have discovered that helps makes the distance bearable:

1. YOU MUST MAKE TIME FOR EACH OTHER:

• Whether you are 3 hours from each other or on two separate continents, because you won't see each other every day, your time together is precious. My boyfriend is in Houston while I am in Dallas and I barely see him at all.  When you see your significant other, you should make sure you are enjoying every minute together. Whatever problems you may be facing, put them aside for just a little while and enjoy spending quality time with each other. You can be going to the aquarium or to the opera, the movies or just sitting at home but enjoy each others company. It's very important!

2. COMMUNICATION IS KEY:

• Communication is important in any relationship. However, when I am in the room with my boyfriend, and we are talking to each other, I can read his facial expressions and see what he is saying with his body language. Some things are hard to vocalize even in the most relaxed relationships! Me and my boyfriend have been together for 4 years. That is my best friend. I can talk to him about anything ranging from the color of the sky to tampons and periods. We are that easygoing and some things are STILL hard for me to say. It's natural! But when you are separated from your significant other, there can be no reading of body language or recognizing the look in their eyes....you can't see them! Everything that you want to be said has to be actually VOCALIZED.

3. EMPATHY:

• As I stated earlier, my boyfriend handles the long distance relationship better than me. He is more accepting of the situation, knowing that it's just something that we have to deal with for now. I'm a little more hysterical, missing him, wishing I could see him everyday, etc. If one person is a little more uncomfortable with the situation than the other, both should try to feel what the other is feeling. If I'm missing him a lot at one point he should either try to make a trip to see me or plan for us to meet halfway, or just simply be comforting saying things like "I miss you too" or "This is not forever. We will be together as soon as...." Those simple statements mean far more than you think they would! Sometimes the simple things are more meaningful than the bigger expressions.

4. PLAN YOUR NEXT MEETING:

• One thing that I have found really helps with being apart is knowing when I will see my boyfriend again. To have something to look forward to is a comfort in the days we are separated. When you are together with you significant other, try to plan the next time you will see each other. Whether it's just acknowledging the fact hat you will be together on a holiday in a few weeks or saying that you will be together on a birthday or something else. Looking forward to something is calming. As I said I can go a little crazy with the distance between us but when I look at my calendar and realize that I have two more weeks to go until I see my boyfriend the stress level goes down almost instantly. Also, when you set a date to see each other, try your hardest to not break that date! And if you have to break the date, come up with another day that you can be together so it is easier to focus on that.

5. TRUST:

• Trust is important in any relationship whether you live 5 minutes or 5 hours apart. Any time anyone hears about my long distance relationship, they always assume that my boyfriend is going to cheat on me. I always get the sad look with the head tilt and "Oh you poor baby" blah blah blah. Then I always get the little softly spoken speech about how my man will cheat on me. One thing that people don't realize is that whether or not my boyfriend will cheat on me while he is away is something that I cannot control. But if I spend my whole relationship worrying about him cheating, when am I going to be able to focus on US and enjoy having him in my life? You can't live in fear just because he/she MAY cheat. It's pointless. So trust your partner. And if they DO end up cheating..................you will have to get over it. It's not in your power to control it. I can't think of how much more stress would be added to my relationship if I constantly accused my faithful boyfriend of cheating on me. *sigh* UNNECESSARY DRAMA!

***BONUS***

LOVE EACH OTHER:

• The Bible teaches us how to love our husband/wife. Since me and my boyfriend are planning to marry, this is how I choose to love him. For all of you married people out there, PAY ATTENTION!

"This is now Bone of my Bones, and Flesh of my Flesh..." Genesis 2:23 --that doesn't sound like anything that should be taken lightly. You treat your significant other as your other half....they are an extension of you. Love is the most important thing in a long distance relationship and I'm not just talking about that warm fuzzy feeling you get when thinking about your partner. I'm talking about the act of loving.
"Love is patient, Love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.." 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
That says everything that you will ever need to know about a long distance relationship or any relationship period. If both of you strive to live by the scripture and lean on each other and God, you  will make it through your period of separation and be happy when you can be together. " Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken." --Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 I am not saying that it will be easy at all but it's worth it right?







NOTE: IF YOU SAID NO TO MY LAST QUESTION, WHY ARE YOU IN THIS RELATIONSHIP FROM THE START??

Fitness (Day 1)

Hey guys! One thing everyone says that they want to do is get into (or in my case BACK into) shape. So many people make working out their New Year's Resolution or just a personal goal.

So why don't w do it?

There are always so many excuses....."I will start tomorrow" "I don't have time right now" "I don't feel like going to the gym!"

Well...here's a quick exercise that will start you on your journey to fitness.

10 Minute AMRAP

(AMRAP=As Many Rounds As Possible)

Set your timer to 10 Minutes and do as many rounds as possible:
15 Squats
15 Jumping Lunges (Right Leg+  Left Leg =1)
15 Sit Ups

Sounds Easy Right?

N O T !

I died. Seriously? What kind of "Ninja" can't do a simple 10 Minute AMRAP? Me. Yep. Me. It was those darn Jumping Lunges that killed me. But it' only 10 Minutes and this is only day one so hopefully it will get better...right? Anyway good luck guys!

Introduciiiiinnnnggggg ME!

Hey guys! I am just a simple girl from Dallas who has a lot of thoughts...hence the blog! I am a Christian girl who is trying to be better each and every day in this world of sin. This blog is going to be my thoughts on world issues, women in today's world, finances,  fashion and any other thing that crosses my mind. Thanks for reading!

Be fierce guys! ;)