Nights in Rodanthe

I'm back from Denver and although I have a very busy week ahead of me, I'm still struggling with being away from Mike again.

Typically, we don't go to movies when we're together. To some extent it feels like a waste of our very precious "in-person" time. In fact, we have only been to 2 movies in nearly 3 years. That's not to say we don't watch movies. We just prefer to rent them and watch from home where we can be snuggled up together and chat if we want, pause if we want, you know... all the stuff that makes DVD technology so great.

Well, for our third anniversary (I can't believe we've been doing this for 3 years!) my sweet Mike has rented us a condo in Destin, Florida for an entire week (more on this later). How glorious is that! So anyway, I was in the mood for a romantic chick flick with a beach setting and Nights in Rodanthe seemed to fit the bill. I had no idea at the time that it involved a long-distance relationship. I don't want to give away the plot but suffice it to say that although I enjoyed the beach scenery, the movie was disheartening and tugs particularly hard at the heartstrings of those of us in LDRs.

I'm not suggesting you don't see it, I'm just telling you to be prepared and don't allow your emotions to be over-whelmed with "what-ifs".

My eBook is Online

I know I haven't posted for awhile but I have a VERY good reason. I have been working diligently on the final edits of my eBook, "How to Make a Long-Distance Relationship Work". Long days and sleepless nights have gone into this project so I am thrilled to announce that the eagerly-awaited book is finally done and is online at www.alongdistancelove.com. Please take a minute to check it out.

I have learned so much while writing this. First their were the technical aspects of publishing an eBook. But more importantly, writing it gave me the opportunity to really think about my long-distance relationship - all the wonderful and positive things, and the unique challenges we all face when we participate in LDRs.

One of the really great things about pursuing this topic to build a business upon is that it reminds me how fortunate I am to have such a wonderful man in my life, despite the fact that he is usually 900 miles away. Focusing on how we are able to make our LDR work gives me inspiration to teach others to have the same kind of happy and fulfilling relationship that Mike and I share. And lastly, it keeps me very busy and helps the days pass quickly between visits.

Speaking of that, I will be going to Denver two weeks from today. Today is also a milestone in that it is our 35th monthiversary.

Mike has made special plans for our third anniversary next month so come back to get more details. It may give you some ideas on what you can do to add more romance to your LDR.

Can Long-Distance Relationships Work?

Long-distance relationships have been going on probably as long as humans have walked the earth. And yet, we still ask the question - can they work? The short answer is... YES! Obviously they can and do work. Nobody said they are easy.

Since I've begun writing about LDRs, I've heard lots of stories. It seems nearly everyone has had some kind of LDR in their life. Often it's the high school sweethearts who venture off to different colleges. And let's not forget all our wonderful folks in the military. Talk about a challenging separation.

I was at a friend's birthday party last weekend and I spoke to a woman who had an LDR for many years. It eventually resulted in a marriage that is now in it's 26th year. She and her then boyfriend, now husband were in the military. Their story is a happily ever after.

I can honestly say I am not a fan of long-distance relationships, but the truth is, the love of my life lives 900 miles away and I will do whatever it takes to keep him in my life. And if I'm truly honest with myself, I would have to admit that in some ways, the distance has helped us build our relationship in ways that we would not have done otherwise. We know we are completely committed to one another because it takes one heck of a commitment to maintain a long-distance relationship. We know that what we have is true love and not infatuation or lust because lust can not be satisfied across the miles.

So despite the difficulties and the lonely nights spent apart, if Mike and I are any indication, you can indeed, have a very successful long-distance relationship. And it's definitely worth it.

Share Your Stories

I'm going to take a break from my story today to do something a little different. I'd like to invite everyone to share with me and the other readers, their own stories of their long distance relationships. I'd like to start posting other stories and ideas on how to maintain and cope with LDRs. My goal is have this be a comprehensive resource for the over 10,000,000 couples (that's right, 10,000,000) who live in this crazy LDR world.

I've found that writing our story has had some unexpected benefits as well. It makes me feel closer to Mike, I get to relive all the incredible moments and experience the same emotions I did when they first occurred, and it reminds me why I love him so much and how worth-it it is to keep going. And perhaps equally valuable, our story may help others have hope and insight into overcoming the challenges of long distance love.

For me, music has made a big difference in my ability to cope with the long spans of separation. A classic tune like Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers, which Mike and I have danced to more than once, whisks me right into his arms. Remember that tear-jerking scene in the movie Ghost? Well, it's a lot like that. Only, lucky for me, I know I will really be in Mike's arms again. In that light, I have created two stores dedicated to LDRs, love, and romance. One, The LDR Store, is primarily for books, magazines, movies, and cell phones. After all, communication is key! The other is music - Romantic Music and Love Songs, many of which speak about long distance love.

So, do yourself and perhaps the other 20 million of us a favor and share your stories, your tips and anything else that comes to mind. I look forward to hearing from you.