When You Move Away
You make friends in every season of your life. Some are passing friendships that end when that season is done. Some are longer-lasting and follow you through changes. The most important are those that last a life-time. Friendship that lasts that long is bound to come across obstacles. As your life changes, so do you. When opportunities for your family arise, sometimes you pack up and move away. Sometimes it is your friends that go the distance route. However your life turns, you are bound to want to keep friends close, even when you move away. Below are tips on how to keep long-distance friendships strong.
Tip #1: Communicate.
Every relationship has a communication obstacle. With long-distance friendships, the communication obstacle is obviously distance. It is hard to stay involved in someone's life when they don't live within driving distance. However, this does not have to be an obstacle to you. Free long distance calling with cell phones, mail, email, and blogs are all great ways to stay connected with your long-distance friends. You don't feel so disconnected when you get to read about the events in a friend's life. You grow closer together when you talk, even if it isn't face to face. Writing a letter by hand to a friend can hold special meaning and help you pass emotion as well as thoughts onto a friend. Receiving something in the mailbox from a friend and the actual act of opening a letter and reading it is a thrill that will help you overcome the obstacle of distance.
Keep your communication lines open and make yourself readily available to your friends even if they live hundreds of miles away. Making it a point to be aware of birthdays, Christmas, and special occasions for your friends will also strengthen the friendship, so do something extra special on those special occasions that you can't be apart of.
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Tip #2: Share.
Friendship is built and strengthened through intimate conversation and sharing of one's inner thoughts and feelings. Long-distance friendships can be strengthened in the same way. When you talk to your long-distance friends have a conversation that is light hearten and fun, but share some of the more intimate details of your life as well. When you share, you are sharing a part of yourself. When you listen, do so attentively. Being one-hundred percent present in any relationship is important, but with long-distance friends it is vital. You cannot be distracted or half aware. If your friend is sharing with you over the phone and you aren't listening, they can tell, but they can't see your body language to make up for the difference. Sharing is two-ways, so be there for your long-distance friends.
Tip #3: Visit.
If a vacation is in your calendar and budget, make it one close to long-distance friends or make plans to go on vacation together. Relaxing with your friends strengthens the bonds of friendship. Take time to visit each other every year at least once if possible. Friendship is hard to keep in tact when you never get the personal interaction of seeing each other face to face and playing together. Being friends is more than just talking and reading about each others lives. It is creating memories together. Creating memories together is part of any long-standing relationship. If you want your friendships to last a lifetime, taking time to visit and make memories together is important.
