I have been in a relationship for almost seven years, five and half of those years were spent being long distance. Sometimes I look back and wonder how in the heck did we manage to sustain a relationship? I wrote this post a long time ago about surviving your LDR (long-distance relationship); there are many things you have to do to keep the relationship alive and well, such as stable communication skills and trust.

To be honest, I am so glad we spent that much time apart. It has helped our non-long-distance relationship more than I could ever imagine. We know what it feels like to miss each other, we are ok spending time by ourselves, we are independent, and most importantly we cherish the time we do have with one another. Sometimes we get in a lull, in a routine, and become comfortable; but eventually we realize that being comfortable doesn't keep the relationship flame burning and it is time to add some excitement.

For those who haven't spent a day without seeing your significant other or even talking to them, try it. In my relationship, we have realized the most important thing we have to do is take care of ourselves first…because that's what we did when we were long distance. We are both equally considerate of each other's goals and dreams and we realize that we have to take care of ourselves personally before we can contribute to our relationship. This might sound selfish but it is actually not; he understands that I need time to myself and vice-versa. Time spent apart, or time spent to yourself is OKAY. It's not selfish and it can only help your relationship. Along with that, you must find time to do things just for your relationship such as date night, grocery shopping, watching a movie, going for a walk, exercising, etc.

I have seen so many relationships that fail because the couples didn't take care of themselves and also didn't spend time with one another. As a long distance couple we would make it a priority to Skype once a week and plan a trip (something to look forward too) together…that was considered our time alone.

The long-distance aspect of our relationship has been over for a few months now and I definitely appreciate what we went through. We are best friends now, and we survived being apart for so long to have the relationship we do. If you are going through this or have been through a LDR, just note: it is the best thing to happen to your relationship and will only make you stronger. If you didn't survive your LDR, than it wasn't meant to be and your relationship probably would have failed if you were together. Life is all a lesson to be learned...