How many of you have ever been in a relationship with someone who had to travel a lot? So many jobs fit this description; sales, entertainment, even doctors have a rough schedule. Question is, “how do you keep the flame burning?” How do you manage your relationship and keep the love going between you? It’s not easy being in a relationship with someone who isn’t readily available. Some might say that’s a good thing, other’s have more difficulty handling it. There is an old saying that says, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder”, but what you should never forget is too much absence can make ones’ heart grow weary causing them to be the one to stay away longer.
It takes time to really get to know one another in a relationship. If and when you fall in love for real, it means it comes with responsibility, knowledge and understanding. You take the good with the bad and love each other through even the worst times, you want to be, and stay together. It’s when a relationship turns “one-sided” that issues begin to arise. Let’s face it, how many of us have taken someone for granted at one time or another? You just assume they will always be there, nothing will tear you apart, good ole reliable will be home when I get there. Well, that’s not always true. Even the deepest of love needs to be cultivated. Think of it like a blossoming flower; it needs light, air, nourishment and love to grow properly. Humans need that as well. For any romance or relationship you both have to consider how each other feels. Be supportive of one another, talk to one another and be realistic with each other. Doing these simple things can and will cultivate a very positive relationship.
Some jobs take you on the road and have you traveling overnight. It may be one night, one week or in some cases months. How do you survive that in a relationship? A few good rules of thumb are this: 1-communicate 2-demonstrate 3-prioritize. Three simple rules that can help a “traveling” relationship survive. Communication is a big one. Perhaps you are missing your significant other because they’ve been gone for a while, well don’t keep that inside, tell them! A person can only be left to guess if you don’t communicate your feelings to them. Listen to each other. If someone is trying to tell you how they feel, don’t be defensive and make excuses for being gone. Instead, listen to what they are saying, you may like it. Demonstrate your love. You may not be there physically at the moment but you can certainly take 1-15 minutes somewhere in your day or night to show your significant other you love and care about them. It’s easy! Send them a message, send them a gift, give them a call, write them a poem or even send them a song. Gifts don’t have to be extravagant all the time. A “simple” gift of your time is the best gift you can give anyone, especially someone you profess to love. Never make yourself so busy that you forget you have someone who loves you. Prioritize! I say this one all of the time, “don’t be with someone who makes you an option instead of a priority”. Don’t misunderstand what I’m saying. Making someone a priority doesn’t mean you have to always put them first, it just means you need to remind yourself how important they are to you. If they are important enough, it should never be a chore or a scheduled task to let someone know you love and support them. Letting someone know they are a priority in your life is very important, especially if they make you a priority in theirs.
If you have to be physically separated at times, and if you truly want someone you love to stay in your life, then you need to both work at it. Make the time to say, “I love you”. Initiate communication once in a while, surprise them some how, most importantly “communicate” to them just how much they mean to you. Remember, “communication” speaks two ways, with your words and with your actions. If you neglect to communicate, neglect to make your significant other feel wanted and loved, neglect to prioritize your relationship, then you are sending the message, “I just don’t care. You just are not important enough to me.” When you are lucky enough to find love, to be loved and experience love, why not enjoy it. You might be surprised how often women and men look for those little, simple demonstrations of love. One phone call, one message, one gift of time may one day make the difference between staying in a relationship or walking away. Never assume anything. A “traveling” relationship can be challenging, but handled in the right manner it can bring two people together with a wonderful and worth while reunion. Always ask yourself this, “Would I want to be treated the same way I am treating my boyfriend?” If you answer this question honestly with a, “not so much”..then don’t you think it’s time to step up your game and do it the right way? After all, love is a two way street.
