When considering whether or not your long distance relationship will work, many people question if the old adage is true: “absence makes the heart grow fonder”.
Or is it more accurately “out of sight, out of mind”? The answer to that question generally lies within the heart of each partner.
First, consider how your partner acts when you talk, be that on the phone, on Skype of Facebook, or even in person. Do they tell you they miss you? Do they act like they are glad to talk to you, or do they treat you like a burden? Obviously in a relationship, you’re going to want to choose the person who believes in “absence makes the heart grow fonder”. If they act like it’s the best part of their day to talk to you, chances are they are a keeper and the long distance relationship can be healthy and successful.
In this situation, it’s good to consider the lesson we can learn from the average family dog. (Well, most of them anyway). Isn’t it great how when you walk in the door from a long, hard day, the dog wags his tail uncontrollably, jumps on you for attention, and basically acts like he hasn’t seen you in ages?
A partner who lives by the ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder’ adage will be like that…only with less barking and licking your face. Your partner should put you as a priority, and when you are in contact, they should treat you like your presence is the best thing to happen to them in a while.
Also, try to get a feel for how your partner acts when you’re not around. In a long distance relationship, this can be tough, but if you have the chance to peek at their Facebook or Twitter account, or maybe talk to their friends or family, you should be able to find out what’s going on. If they seem to be chasing other partners, be overly flirty, or just don’t seem to remember they have a partner in their day-to-day activities, they may be of the ‘out of sight, out of mind’ kind.
Remember that to stay in someone’s heart and have them grow fonder of you takes work! Send them letters (in the old fashioned snail mail), emails, texts, and phone calls or voicemails. Obviously, don’t go overboard, but it never hurts to drop a line saying you’re thinking of them or that you can’t wait to talk to them or see them again.
