things I don't miss.

Happy Tuesday, folks! In the last few weeks, I've spent a considerable amount of time thinking
about just how far {cv} and I have come since the days we spent apart. Below are a few photos to illustrate the things I don't miss about the days we spent apart. I'm sure many of you who are still enduring long distance will be able to relate all too acutely...


After some more reflection, I think this post would be more appropriately titled:
three things I'm grateful for now that we're together.

I count my blessings every day that {cv} and I can do those normal things together {like go to the grocery, pick up the dry cleaning, or venture out on a run}. Even when his work schedule gets in the way, I know I will--in the very least--get to see that smile at some point in my day...which truly does make my day that much better.

Back when we were long distance, I was downright selfish about the time we spent together. I hated having to share that time with family, even though I knew it was essential in the plan to become a family of our own one day. In retrospect, the time we spent during our long distance with our families {for holidays, random trips, and the like} really did help them understand just how much stock we were putting into one another. We were serious--serious enough to spend time away from our respective families on big occasions just so we could be together.

These three things I don't miss {and those things for which I am now strangely grateful} have truly shaped how I appreciate him on a daily basis. The three years spent in different cities {from June 2006 to June 2009} helped to mold us into the couple we are today. I have said it before--and I'll say it again: I'm so incredibly thankful we have that reference point...though when we were going through it, I don't think I would have ever been able to say that.

Do you have any difficult past experiences which you've later come to appreciate, 
be it in a long distance relationship or otherwise?

If you are {or were} in a long distance relationship, please email me...you might just be a part of a future series here on {long distance loving}! Thanks for all your input :) have a great Tuesday! xoxo {av}

psst: have you entered my fab bag giveaway from Inge Christopher?
Your entries could spell prize winnings worth more than $100!

27 comments:

  1. My fiance (who was my boyfriend at the time) and I did three years long distance before I finally moved up to Boston. It's funny because everything you've written here is how I felt, too.

    I guess what I've come to appreciate is that being apart really gave us both the chance to grow as individuals and come into our own. Our relationship is 101% stronger from having spent time apart.

    It's FANTASTIC to finally be in the same place, though, isn't it?? :)

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  2. I totally get being selfish with your time. We aren't exactly long distance right now...My fiance travels Sunday through Thursday. But I don't want to share all the time on the weekend and I do want every moment to count.

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  3. I was in a long-distance relationship with my Swedish boyfriend for a year and it seemed even harder knowing that he was halfway around the world from me. Thankfully, once I graduated from university, i packed my bags and now call Sweden home. I love reading your blog because I can relate to it so much :)

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  4. I am right there with you. We did long distance for 5 years. Ew. And now getting to see him every single day is the most amazing payoff!

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  5. TOTALLY get these! I feel like B and I were constantly on double dates with my parents lol

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  6. I've never had to do the long distance thing but I CAN'T imagine how hard it must be. I'm sure it has made you guys a stronger couple, though, and now you know that if you can make it through that you can make it through anything!

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  7. So glad you guys aren't long distance anymore! And now you appreciate everything about the relationship even more because you know what it feels like to be apart :)

    xx Emily @ laughliveandshop.blogspot.com

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  8. I love this post girly. My husband and I did long distance for 2 yrs before he moved to where I'm from. It makes you SO strong and I really noticed how much I truly loved him within that time. I remember counting down the days until the weekend when I'd get to see him haha it's tough, but 100% worth it b/c the time you do get together feels so rewarding. thanks for helping me remember to always be grateful :)

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  9. I couldn't agree more - an email coming your way x

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  10. It's nowhere near what you endured but my partner and I spent our first year long distance before I grew fed up and switched Universities/degrees. We would only be able to see each other during semester breaks or the couple times I was able to fly down. Every time I had to take him to the airport I would end up having to spend ridiculous amounts on parking as I would cry so hard for so long I just had to wait it out in my car in the carpark!

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  11. Oh do I hear you loud and clear! It really is the simplest of things that make it so hard. I love how when I've had a bad day I can still call him and he'll let me vent, but what I'd really rather have is just a simple hug.

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  12. We were an hour and a half apart from the time we started dating to the time we got married, but we got weekends together. Our first year together, I was going to college in his hometown, and it was crazy to manage seeing him on the weekends and still getting home to visit my family; the second year, I moved home (an hour from where his family lives) and he had to manage visiting me and seeing his parents. During the summers, though, I'd stay with his family for a week or two at a time, and that was always wonderful. Still, whenever anyone asked us what we were most looking forward to in marriage, we always answered "living in the same place!"

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  13. My now hubby long distance dated for one year at the beginning of our relationship. Fast forward a few years and we are newlyweds, but my oh my was it tough! I understand your thoughts about selfish us time- I was like that with our every visit! I still tear up when I see couples parting at the airport because I remember the heart wrenching feelings it is to drop off a significant other off at the airport!

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  14. Oh gosh, the stories I could tell! Totally emailing them to you.

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  15. My boyfriend and I generally have to be long distance during the summer. We have sooo many skype dates. Good post!

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  16. I'm so glad you posted this. My boyfriend and I have been long distance since we started dating almost 3 years ago. This summer was the hardest since I was abroad for most of it and apart from going the longest we had without seeing each other, the time difference made it almost impossible to skype. Thanks for posting...we're hoping we'll be together soon but for now, we're just hangin' in there.

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  17. I'm so glad you posted this av! My bf and I did long distance from South Africa to California during the beginning of our relationship and while I appreciate it now, it was terribly difficult and Id never want to go through it again!

    xoxo
    Jenna

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  18. I'm so thankful my hubby and I never had to do long distance, although when we moved from 10 minutes to 30 minutes away from each other I thought the world was going to end. Missing one another always helps keep your relationship in perspective and focus on the importance of every moment together!

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  19. I feel the same way about the things that I currently hate about our long distance marriage.

    I have a hard time sharing our time with friends or with fights - because let's be real the fights still come, they're just harder to get over now.

    But above all it's the good bye after a great weekend or visit that's the hardest!

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  20. I completely agree!! Definitely don't miss any of those!

    Becca
    http://blondeslogic.blogspot.com

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  21. It's so funny how the littlest things like going to the grocery store together make all the difference! They really do though!

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  22. I used to send John texts about missing his socks when I was doing solo laundry-how loony I was when we were apart!

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  23. i totally understand this post, and think it's so awesome for you to share your feelings about the situation now. i'm currently in a long distance relationship with my boyfriend of almost three years. we're both in college- we met at college, and just happened to have grown up ten minutes away from each other (he went to the private high school; i went to the public high school in the town). basically for the past two and a half years we've spent so much time together, but these past four months, we've been living two hours away (he's got a summer job out at school; i'm at home), and the long distance will continue until december (with him studying at a different school for a semester). your blog and stories have been such a heart-warming inspiration for me during these rough times. Thank you, thank you! :-)

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  24. I'm in a long distance relationship right now and TOTALLY agree with those three things. My boyfriend and I have been dating for 5 years, 3 of them apart. We started dating in high school then went to different colleges and now he is living back home while I'm still in college 3 hours away. It definately blows having to deal with distance. It brings so much tension up that would not be there if it wasn't for you being apart. I love that you make this blog around your relationship! Its very encouraging! I know I don't have long!

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  25. This almost made me cry. We're still in the long distance thing and these three that you've mentioned are the worst. I can't wait to say goodbye to the distance!

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  26. I can relate to this! My boyfriend went into the Navy after high school so for 2 years I only saw him a handful of times. Long distance is even worse when someone else is telling you when you can see each other!

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  27. Oh yes we know the pains of that all too well! My girlfriend (well fiance) lives out in America. I just returned yesterday from spending nearly a month out there.. you get so used to doing the normal day things & next thing you know.. it's gone :(

    Megan X

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