It has been a little over three years and partaking in a long distance relationship has yet to get any easier. The equation for such a commitment is usually seen as:

(Tears) + (Loneliness) x (Number of times you’ve pressed repeat on ‘your song’) – (The precious time that could be used for Skyping/Facetime on pointless homework and never-ending classes) = countless nights consisting of Ben and Jerry’s chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream and Channing Tatum chick flicks; mainly used for a good cry!

But, through this three year rollercoaster ride, I have learned how to develop stability in a relationship and discovered the true meaning of being in love. Those two qualities are the two most important qualities every individual trying to maintain a committed relationship should experience. Although, to achieve such qualities, one has to keep it interesting. Forget the cliché goodnight text message and spice it up with a goodnight Skype session!

This past weekend I finally ended my teen years as I turned the big 2-0! Due to our distance and contrasting schedules, once again I was destined to spend my birthday by myself; or so I thought! Without telling me what he was scheming, my boyfriend, Dylan, instructed me to go take out my favorite meal at Fireside. To my surprise, just as I was opening my dorm door with  my usual chicken quesadilla on a wheat wrap with two cups of salsa, my Skype was blowing up with video requests. As I clicked his request, there was Dylan, with cheap Wal-Mart candles and the typical college student dinner, Ramen Noodles, asking me on a dinner date. Although I wasn’t able to kiss him for his efforts or have a post dinner cuddle session, the romantic gesture of having dinner, equipped with dim lighting and cute dinner conversation, was exactly the birthday present I needed.

It’s with that example that comes the key tactic to long distance relationships: never ever be boring!