In today’s rapidly changing world, it isn’t uncommon for people to gravitate towards non-traditional relationships such as long distance dating. From the couples held apart by military service to those that spark from a random meeting in a chat room, they all share common challenges. The key to success lies in knowledge of what is needed to sustain this special set of circumstances.

As someone that has been married for 8 years to a man that I meet online 12 years ago, I can tell you that navigating the time apart isn’t easy. Despite the pitfalls and longing, this type of relationship can survive and flourish if the couple is realistic, keeps lines of communication open and work harder than the average couple at keeping the romance and excitement flowing. My hope is that I can share some of my tips on how to maintain a long distance relationship with someone who will use it to strengthen their connection with their loved one. Cheers to beating the statistics!

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrhayata/ / CC BY-SA 2.0