Relationships are hard work, but when you add distance between the two of you it can become even more complicated. Long distance relationships are quite common these days as the Internet brings people together from all over the world. Other people have to endure long distance relationships because of job obligations that take them away for extended periods of time. Many people won't even attempt to pull off a long distance relationship while others are totally committed to making it work. Some of us know that we just aren't built for this type of relationship while there are others of us that believe that love can endure.

Long distance relationships can work, it just takes the commitment of both people for it to last. Both people involved have to be committed to communication, whether it is through the phone, through emails or written letters. Communication is something we all take for granted when we are in the presence of one another, but when you are dealing with a long distance relationship you do not have the benefit of body language to help guide you. Communication is key to making these relationships work. Without good communication you will lose track of one another and when you do finally come together you will be living completely separate lives.

Also important is to establish some ground rules. We all have a need to be social, to be loved, and to be touched so you must come together and decide what you are each comfortable with the other person doing in their social lives. Is yours a totally committed relationship with no room for flings? Will you send lust filled letters and participate in phone sex to meet your physical needs or can you each turn to casual sexual relationships for these needs? These are topics that may be a bit odd to discuss, but if you want to make your long distance relationship work you really need to touch on these subjects and know where the other person stands.

All relationships take work, but long distance relationships take a bit more work in the way of communication, compromise, and understanding. Many people believe that long distance relationships simply cannot work, but many have in the past and many will in the future. It's true that a large number of long distance relationships fail, but this is true of relationships that do not deal with distance as well. Relationships are hard, and if you are in the position where you are considering a long term relationship you really need to think about how well that will work for you, for the other person in your relationship, and how well the needs of both of you can be met through a long distance relationship.