“Will you be my Valentine?” That’s the phrase commonly associated with the magical day of Valentine’s. You might hear it and think of roses or stuffed animals or perhaps even a special date that you and your sweetheart have been planning for a while. However, what happens to those who are not able to be with their special person?
Long-distance relationships are fairly common, especially since COVID-19 served as a barrier for many couples to see each other in person. Antonia Steele, a senior from Ashland City, was forced to adapt her relationship to the changing times.
“My boyfriend and I had only been dating for about 3 months when the pandemic required everyone to go home, so we had to navigate our relationship from there,” Steele said.
Clarissa Spitzley, a freshman from Adams, expressed just how it feels to yearn for someone’s presence, but to know they are out of your reach.
“You can be on call with your loved one all you want but the physical comfort of home is not there and it really sucks,” Spitzley said.
So, with the increase in long-distance relationships comes the necessity to discover new ways to share love, spend quality time together, and communicate how much couples care for each other.
There are two keys to a successful long-distance relationship (or a relationship in general), and the first is good communication. Though it may not seem like much, a simple “good morning” text can make a world of difference. Also, using your phone to share your day with your partner can make you feel much more connected.
“We always try to make time to talk to each other or call if it’s even for a minute or two. And we always send each other snaps of how our day is going or tiktoks so when we can’t clearly talk to each other because of a busy schedule we can at least still communicate in a way,” Spitzley said.
The second key is something that applies in both long- and short-distance relationships. Drake Box, a senior from Dyersburg, explains that distance isn’t such a big deal when your relationship is built on good ground.
“To me, long-distance relationships are only successful with the right amount of trust and chemistry. If those things are there, the distance doesn’t matter,” Box said.
Another thing that can make you feel more connected to your sweetheart is to plan a virtual date with them. Sarah Cornwell, a junior from Benton, Kentucky, recommends having a virtual movie night through Disney+.
“I really enjoyed the Disney+ watch parties! I think it is a great date night for any couple and you could even make it a romantic movie!” Cornwell said.
Long-distance relationships may seem tough, but they do have rewards to them. Many couples say that their relationship became stronger despite the distance. McKenzie Reagor, a senior from Karnak, Illinois, shares this view.
“I would definitely say our relationship is stronger since no one is necessarily reliant on the other for everyday things. We choose to be in a relationship because we truly value one another, not because it is convenient,” Reagor said.
One thing about long-distance relationships is that they do not have to be long distance forever. Regardless of how often you are able to see each other in person, the reunion is often just as sweet as parting was sour.
“We learned to not take each other and all the little moments for granted. When we were able to close the distance, we were even able to experience the “honeymoon” stage all over again,” Cornwell said.
