The Long Distance Relationship Thing

"you're so vain...
you probably think this song is about you..."
~ Carly Simon

I've come to the conclusion that the biggest catalyst or challenge to long-distance relationships is something innate to (almost) all human beings: Imagination.

Seriously. People fall in love with strangers or fight with best friends because of the things that go on in their heads. I'm convinced.

I guess it first occurred to me in a past long-distance and romantic relationship I had in which we'd go a few days without speaking and then come to the next phone call with entirely different attitudes - pissed at or pleased with something the other may or may not have done. It also occurred to me as so many faded relationships strengthened when I was in France for so long. And now, my best friend is in Australia, many of my closest friends from college made my dream move to San Francisco, and the rest are scattered randomly across the country and/or wrapped up in their own lives - as I am wrapped up in mine. I never see these people, but we talk often. In between conversations though, we think of each other... something triggers a memory, we hang-up contemplating some provocative thought that stays with us for days, or we just genuinely miss each other and dream about hanging out and having fun again. And that's when the problem starts - we dream.

Based not on fact but simply on our wild imagination and passionate emotions, this is where things grow strong or fall apart. In thinking of each other between calls, we progress our relationships, yet only one-sidedly. Then, next time we meet or chat, we bring with us attitudes based off of the things we've individually been thinking of. Basically, you bring with you sentiments based on the actions that occurred only in your imagination - whether you realize it or not.

When apart, things happen - if only in one person's mind - that further the relationship with you.

Maybe that doesn't make sense. Maybe I am - and many of my like-minded peers are - simply prone to this because of over-active and wild imaginations. But I still find it interesting... weird... fascinating how two different minds - two different lives - can take the same relationship in totally different directions without ever realizing it.

That's what I'm here to do. Realize stupid things.

Yea philosophy.