10 July 2021, Somewhere in the Metaverse - UplandDood (@Just1Dood)

Are you on many different writing platforms? If you are, maybe you can help me answer this. As I progress in ReadCash and getting more involved in writing here and engaging in the community, I find that it is quite a unique platform. The writer's engagement level with each other is high. When you do a deep dive into the comments section, these are not shallow comments such as - like your article, good one, etc, etc. Many comments and responses are well thought out and bring value to the article, the writer, and other readers.

This article is a result of this environment and community. After reading @Eylz2021 article "Out of Sight, Out of Mind", and after glancing through the comments left by the readers, I started writing my comment. My comments got longer and started to look like a commentary. At which point, I highlighted everything and pressed "Ctr" and "x" to cut it and pasted it here. Hence the birth of this article, which in effect is a long comment to Eylz2021's article. In its stead, I left another comment, which you can read in the comment section of her article.

For the curious, here's the unedited 'cut' portion of the original comment. I'll use this 'cut' comment to expound further on for my article.

I reflected back on my youthful days and this is what I found - having a normal relation is tough as it is but having a long-distant one compounds the difficulty. Relationships regardless of distance take a lot of effort. So, to get back to your "Out of Sight, Out of Mind" piece, I believe it really depends on the initial 'bonding' stage. If the relationship started out strong, then it should survive not only the test of distance but the test of time. Again, it takes effort. Relationship means communication. Sometimes these are non-verbal that can only be shared face-to-face. Hence, it is tougher to do it over distance, which means distance takes greater effort to maintain and grow a relationship. If not careful, the "Out of Sight, Out of Mind" becomes "Out of Mind, Out of Heart".

Out of Sight, Out of Mind vs Distance Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

The only thing these two idioms have in common is that they are idioms. Both speak of the condition of the heart in regards to distance and relationships.

They each exist at the opposite end of the heart condition spectrum in the said relationship.

The Heart Challenge

As I'd mentioned above, no relationship is easy. Ask anyone who's ever gone through one. If you delve further, they'll tell you that it takes a lot of patience, time, and effort to keep one healthy and sustainable.

It takes all that to nurture, grow and cement the connection between these two hearts that they may become one. Not an easy task. But because it's not easy, the end result once achieved, is a very strong relationship.

That's just for a normal relationship. We're not talking about a long-distance one.

The Distance Challenge

I know this sounds cheezy but are you connected by a direct line or by WiFi? If the signal is not strong, then there will be a lot of distractions. This brings me to the point of how strong a relationship is before the separation period. Alternatively, how much effort is being made to ensure the relationship (i.e. signal) remains strong and in fact, constantly being developed? I can share from experience that constant communication is not an option. There's a need to connect. There's a need to share and receive daily or weekly experiences. Sharing gels relationships. I will go as far as to say that it is the superglue of relationships.

The question is then, will and does long-distance relationships work? The answer is a definite yes! Despite the doomsayer, I stand by another idiom - "Where there's a will, there's a way" to make it work.

Despite my article on "Odd-sayings that I disagree with", I do believe that many of these pearls of wisdom hold truths.

I believe that whether "Out of Mind, Out of Sight" or "Distance Makes the Heart Grow Fonder" prevails depends on where the effort is in these two extreme spectrums. If much effort and time are invested in communication and building this relationship, then distance will certainly make the heart grow fonder. It becomes unbearable to be apart. And if it's the opposite, then there will be drifting apart.

The Superglue

Who then should make the effort? Of course, ideally both parties. But what I've noticed is that even if the superglue is on one surface, it will bond both pieces. Obviously, if applied on both surfaces, the result would be better.

This part on who should initiate and put in the effort is a bit difficult to expound on without going deeper into the personality and character of each. And that would be another article altogether. But what I can say is that both should take a simple online personality test to understand each other better. Relationships grow by complementing and not by clashing with each other. A better understanding of each other may be the needed spark to jump-start the next stage of the relationship.

Final Thoughts

Personally, I strongly believe that long-distance relationships can work and in fact, work very well. My personal experience is that I get really excited when it's time to visit. A short visit does wonder - opportunities to explore new places, try out new food, and making new experiences together. And at the end of the adventure, the parting reinforces the feeling that "Distance Makes the Heart Grow Fonder."

Thank you for reading and I hope that this article has given you new excitement in your long-distance relationship if you have one.

Stay safe and see you in the next article.

Sources:

Header: Unsplash.com - Greg Rosenke

Image 1: Unsplash.com - Dmitry Ratushny

Image 2: Unsplash.com - Nadine Shaabana

Image 3 Unsplash.com -  Kelly Sikkema

Thank you again for dropping by. Have fun with English. Remember to share your experience in the comment section.

Do drop by to say hi at my following addresses. I promise I'll be at home :)

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