Distance Makes The Heart Grow Fonder

Dont Believe Anyone When They Say Long Distance Relationships Dont Work

-  Vrutika Shah

(Told from my husband's POV)

During a lazy lunch break, a colleague who is about to tie the knot soon, was asking a few of us what married life has been like in our experience. "I would never advise anyone to get married, being single is the best. Being responsible for your life alone is enough. Another person enters your life and wreaks havoc," another colleague claimed as a few others chimed in. Looking at the poor groom-to-be's face, I knew I had to voice my disagreement. "That's not been true at all for me. I've been married for three years, and it's been pretty great. I'm really happy," I said to the surprise of my fellow colleagues. One even asked me, "How do you make it work?"

I'm not trying to be smug, but this is a question my wife and I get a lot. I work in the Merchant Navy, which means I'm away for six months at a time. So, long-distance is an inescapable part of being in a relationship with me. With the reputation that long-distance relationships have earned in pop culture and on social media, we were supposed to be doomed from the start. However, that has been anything but the case so far for us.

In between situationships and the global 4B movement, where women are choosing to abstain from men altogether, 2024 has been an especially grim year for love. The anarchy that dating apps brought in, a general disregard for commitment, technology so advanced that you don't need to leave your home for anything or unrealistic expectations-who's to blame?