Love Can Survive Long Distance!

While it demands patience and planning, a long-distance relationship doesn’t have to be so hard, finds Paritha Patel.

- Parita Patel

Relying mainly on Skype to keep your romance chugging along isn’t easy, but when has the path to lasting love ever been smooth. And a long-distance relationship takes more work than usual. “My boyfriend works in the US and I am in Pune,” says Bhakti Ganatra, 27, who has been in a long-distance relationship for five years now. “I would love to move to the US and be with him, but getting a visa is an issue.” Ganatra wants to get married, but financially, they’re just not ready yet. As she sees it, “No one wants to be in a long-distance relationship. But we make the best of the situation.” Here’s how you can too.

MAKE A DATE

When you’re trying to make a long-distance relationship work, it’s important to have goals to work towards and look forward to. For instance, applying for jobs in the other person’s city or taking a vacation together will close the distance a little. Sunita Paudwal*, a 26-year-old PhD student says, “My boyfriend went to the UK for a year-long programme, but he planned to stay on if he got a job. We weren’t sure whether he’d return after a year. What made the uncertainly bearable was planning my visit during his Easter break.” Keeping the other person involved in your daily highs and lows is important too and keeps you connected.

DON’T JUMP