How to Keep a Romantic Relationship in Long Distance - Essay Example

How to keep a romantic relationship in long distance via social media and phones. How to keep a romantic relationship in long distance via social media and phones? Romantic relationships between two people staying in places that are located far away from each other are known as long distance relationships. Staying away from a loved one is always a challenge. Regardless of the amount of time we spend away from our loved ones, the geographical distance poses numerous hindrances that often result in damaged romantic relationships. Moreover, those who have undergone the tedious process of being away from their partner know how much of a hassle, maintaining romantic relationships with a person you cannot meet or greet in person can be. This paper explains the various theories that have been proposed to hinder long distance relationships and how in my interpersonal encounters, they have been overcome. Relationships for different people have different meanings. Most people get invested in the other person too early in the relationship and end up giving up when things do not go the way they want to. The key to a successful relationship is keeping a check and balance on your expectations. The rest of the necessities can be taken care of by the various mechanical devices that have been invented and discovered for the ease of communication. My romantic relationship has been going strong since the last five years, thanks to the efficient communication with the help of social media and mobile phones. It has been postulated that most of the difficulty arises in being unable to see your partner. This is because it fosters uncertainty, which may lead to distrust and disloyalty, and spoil the relationship sooner or later. This complication usually arises either during the early phases of a relationship, when the feelings of apprehension and skepticism may take over logic. It may also arise over a span of few years, since partners tend to get tired of long distances over long spans of time and need a way to either reduce the distance, time, or suffer termination of the relationship. Phones are an important means of bridging this gap, as are increasingly popular internet applications such as Skype, Viber, imo, etcetera. If you designate a particular time in the day when you can use either of these to have some time conversing with the person you are involved with, or share precious moments ranging from birthdays and anniversaries, to joys and sorrows such as getting employment or losing a family member. The face to face communication offers not only a way out for the frustrations that result due to the distance, but also eases doubts that result due to the social expectations out of a relationship. For instance, people who know you are involved in a long distance relationship often ask you how you do it. They (especially females) claim that they cannot spend moments apart from their partner, and wonder how you can stand the distance. They also try to wonder whether you are sure your loved one is being unfaithful, and what means do you use to be sure. An interesting fact of the matter is that not every spouse or partner is unfaithful to his significant other. Due to the environment, the nature of work or education as well as friends of your partner, you may often wonder whether your partner is cheating, or keeping things from you. However, an easy means to keep such apprehensions from surfacing is phone and video calls. Phone calls give you the confidence to converse with your significant other, as well as help you ensure whether or not the relationship is going in the correct direction. It is interesting how one simple phone call can bridge gaps for the time that you spend apart. Another complexity in a relationship that phone calls can tackle are the unrealistic expectations that you or your partner may have when it is eventually time to meet each other. Video calls would ensure that you look and sound the same as when you first saw them. Other ways to tackle this situation are to share pictures with your partner. Sending snaps can be counted as small tokens of love, and go a long way in not only ensuring the partner is not cheating, but also to safeguard the relationship from your end, making your partner aware of the fact that he too, can have complete faith in you, and that you feel the same way about him as he does. Moreover, it has also been thought that relationships result in more financial burden on both ends than does a relationship where both the partners live nearby and have more chances of interpersonal interactions. This can happen in two ways. Firstly, your partner may be very conscious of events and important days during your relationship. This may entail you catching a plane to your partner’s plane and additional expenses of eating out and delivering a gift. A more romantic alternative to this would perhaps be what I have personally witnessed a few times. Save up on the money and send him an electronic gift, such as a subscription to his favorite game or magazine, or send him a gift via courier services that are available online. All you need to do is type in your credit card number on a website and it’s done! You could then prepare him a presentation, like I did; on our first anniversary away from each other, or a movie of the precious moments and conversations you have shared. Wear a pretty dress and use FaceTime to video chat with him. Not only will that save your money, but it will also be a much more personal gift from you to your loved one, without seeming to extravagant or hasty as a decision. For instance, the second birthday I spent apart from my partner, I sent him an e-gift, along with a personal message and a late night conversation with him; wishing him with a decorative photograph and words expressing all that I had thought about him. He loved it and needless to say, we are still going strong as a couple who spends almost years apart in two different continents since years. Maintaining romantic relationships with the partner over long distances also involves small exchanges of love every now and then. Whether it is exchanging morning greetings every day or sending your partner a red rose emoticons on special occasions signifying your love (even though it usually works better on females), small interactions or messages matter a lot. They convey your love for the other person without using a lot of your time and are just as effective as long phone calls. The options of using emoticons are more convenient that typing in detail what you are feeling. However, too much of a good thing is always harmful, and so are emoticons. They can also be seen as a solution to several problems. For instance, I had an argument with my partner few years ago which lasted for a month. One day, amidst the silence, he sent me the emoticon of an angel. All he had to say was sorry afterwards and I could not help but melt inside and such a beautiful gesture. For male spouses or partners living far away, you can use similar cute emoticons available on various applications such as Facebook messenger, and make them laugh. It is often stated that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. However, I believe that the easiest way to a man’s heart is through his laughter. If not emoticons, use pictures that are available on the internet, to joke your way out of a situation which could get worse or one where your partner is upset and needs cheering up. These little gestures enhance the connection between two people who are further apart by making them believe they cannot just communicate, but also laugh together. Lastly, one of the most important parts of long distance relationships is letting people know that it is there. Social media websites such as Twitter and Facebook are often necessary to let your friends and family know that there is a special someone that you are involved with, regardless of the distance between you and your partner. There are several ways this can be done. What you need to know is which one fits you and your partner best. You can either change your ‘relationship status’, to make her special if your partner is very active on Facebook, or upload a casual status or picture with each other Twitter. If neither one of these are important to you or your partner, you can message your friends and let them know, or upload a profile picture with them. I have discovered the hard way that publicizing your relationship is often the key to make your partner happy. This is because it leads not only him, but also several others that you are no longer available or interested in other people. Furthermore, it is a means to show your possessiveness which counts as a sign of love. You should therefore invest time and figure out which method of social media sharing is safest and best for you and go ahead with it. In conclusion, the key to maintaining healthy romantic relationships over long distances is to know which method of communication suits you best. When you know what the method is, you should start making little amount of effort every day, as that is what counts in the long run. The best devices to keep in communication are call, or video call based, as they can help prevent a lot of unnecessary arguments and keep you from having unrealistic expectations. When it comes to gifts, the best are given through electronic based websites, phone or social media. These save the person from bearing too much financial burden. It is also important to maintain a proper public status of your relationship, as it exudes your confidence in your partner and makes him or her special. Finally, you need to have faith in your partner as well as your relationship. If you are confident that you can pull through difficult times with the person who lives miles away from you, there is nothing that can hinder your happiness. Along with confidence, you also need to have knowledge of the latest applications as well as methods of keeping in contact via phone. The overall positive mindset, along with a good knowledge of your mobile phone and social media, can help not only revive but also maintain a beautiful long distance relationship. Read More