How to keep your long distance relationship thriving

What is goings on party people...Have you ever felt as though having a long distance relationship would be difficult? I think distance makes the heart grow fonder. I've been dating my current fiancé for over 2 years now. He's in Afghanistan as a contractor and I'm in the Army stationed in Texas. This is nowhere near difficult for us. I'm going to tell you some ways that keep us close and I believe it could work for any couple.

When we first met, he would give me 60 seconds. In these 60 seconds I would have to come up with three good questions. Now just to back up, we were introduced by a mutual friend. He worked with him and I used to be stationed with him and he got out the Army. Therefore my fiancé and I only communicated online the first couple of months. Now, this 60 second time that I had he would probably do like once or twice a day. This was his way of getting to know me and see where my mind was at and in turn I got to know him. My fiancé is one year younger than me but he is so old fashion so opposites do attract people.

We vacation as a couple and as a family. When he comes home I put in leave and I may go to California, which is where he's from, he may come to Texas or on two different occasions we went to Vegas. He's met my son and we took him to LEGOLAND and he had a blast. When he comes to Texas they hang out or we will all go out. It can be to the movies, out to dinner and even once he took him and one of his friends to an outdoor amusement park. Getting the children involved is an important part of ANY relationship it's as equally important to have the alone time (bow-chicka-bow wow).

Now the extended family is important too. Of course he's met my mother and I have met his. I speak to his mother at least once or twice on the phone and he and my mom text each other every so often. It was important for me that I got along with his mother and not because I desperately was seeking her approval but because I knew he was raised by his mother and they had a close relationship. Knowing that him and his mother got along so well made me want to know how much of an awesome person she is and to have that same relationship. I LOVE having two mothers. She enjoys my company and I enjoy hers. At this point my mothers and I are planning on having a girls trip.

Not everyone has baggage but if you do, don't carry it into your next relationship. This is for any relationship not just a marriage or engagement. I was engaged prior to meeting my current fiancé and I was with that guy for three years. Even though it ended on the worse possible terms I did not carry that into this relationship. I was NOT ready to date again but my friend literally said (TRUST ME) and at the moment I put all feelings aside and went for it. You can't go into every relationship thinking that all men or women are the same cause they aren't. Now I'm not saying go be an idiot and give every Joe or Jane a free ride. By all means be cautious but open-minded. Bottom line, upfront it all boils down to being honest and trusting. If you need to lie then you need to be alone.

Most importantly communication. I talk to my fiancé every morning and every evening. There was a time that he would get so mad that he would turn his phone off for days and I couldn't reach him. I had to speak to him on many occasions (not too many though) and tell him how it made me feel and how it worried me and he has not done it in a while. You must express any feelings whether it's good or bad to your significant other. I always say "A closed mouth don't get fed" and this applies here. The two of you must have that understanding that you must have thick skin with each other. He hurts my feelings and I hurt his but at the end of the day we both agree that it's makes our relationship stronger. I told my son I'm marrying my best friend and joked about it and said I put him in the friend zone LOL. My finance knew what I meant and you shouldn't have to feel as though you must hide anything from your significant other. Also, don't go to bed angry at each other. Talk things over and express your anger. Holding it in will just ruin the relationship.

Now I'm no relationship expert but this has helped me tremendously in my relationship. I hoped this was an eye opener for someone and that it can change a mind. I KNOW long distance relationships can work, it just takes both parties to commit. So until next time folks...I'M OUT!!!!

Note: To leave comments, scroll to the bottom of the homepage. Thanks!!!

#love #longdistancerelationship #couples