Unexpected benefits to LDRs?

I suppose many people can agree that being in an LDR is far from convenient. After all, it is time-consuming and difficult, but in the end love is worth anything.

I was just thinking the other day, and I thought: being in an LDR keeps me extremely grounded. I know what my priorities are. I used be very flirtatious, but now I'm exactly the opposite. I know how to work out my schedule for my SO. I'm more open about age difference, whereas before I met him I wouldn't even think about being in a relationship with someone 2 1/2 years older than me.

So the question: are there any unexpected benefits about being in an LDR? Discuss.

-Lori

[Malaga]

Not having to shave/wax on a regular basis!

[OperaDiva]

Stronger focus on communication, opportunity to learn to be independent while in a relationship, plus my supervisor is understanding about needing a longer vacation

[Alsfia]

Being forced to focus on yourself as well

[Deleted]

These are all really great! LOL at Malaga about shaving.

[I&A]

Not having to shave/wax on a regular basis!

hahahahaha hilarious!! But I know what you mean

[oxytocinbite]

Well not long distance anymore but I still have benefits from it. Communication seems better since literally talking was the main part of it, trust, It also made us stronger as a couple. We appreciate each other more and the time we have together, I always have a huge smile on my face when he comes home. ^-^

[alittlemind]

Not having to shave/wax on a regular basis!

This! Ahah. Some days I'm just too lazy, you know?

Also, I think I am much more thankful for the time we get to spent together. I certainly don't take that for granted. And I think it's helped us move away from the more physical side of a relationship and really focus on communication. Not that our communication was bad at all before, but still, LD has helped us build it even stronger. We are a stronger couple because of it.

[mellif]

If my SO and I had met in person rather than online, I don't know if we would've had the same connection (lol pun kinda) that we do now, if at all. We might've just ignored each other. We really got to know each other by our personalities first. That's the biggest thing for us, I think. Also, I have no idea how I'd be able to focus on school if he were close distance. I'd just want to spend all my time with him rather than class, which would be pretty bad!

Also, I totally second the shaving thing. It's such a pain!!

[SJ22]

Learning the other persons language, culuture and country (better)

[aniay]

Not having to shave/wax on a regular basis!

YES!!!!!!!!!!!

And you base your relationship on comunication and not sex, you learn how to talk.

And in my case because of slight language barier I learned not to assume I understad what the other person says. If I have even a bit of doubt I ask.

[differentcountries]

Not having to shave/wax on a regular basis!

Really? I am very aware to look my best on camera. Don't undress everytime but still

[Zapookie]

Really? I am very aware to look my best on camera. Don't undress everytime but still

My SO doesn't really care about hair or what I look like, so I don't shave unless he asks. Also my webcam isn't HD so you can't see a whole lot lol.

[differentcountries]

I find is that I become very aware of what I am doing, how I spend the time with him (and without him). It is kind of like getting a new hobby that you just HAVE to make time for. Also, I get more creative. Since I got together with him, I find myself getting creative about gifts (buying and making) and curious about technology (everything ranging from rvideorecording myself singing to, well, showing off with minimum clothes). I even find myself planning international travelling, something I have always found difficult to do (back in the days I used to go to travel agencies), no it is no problem because I am so motivated! I feel lucky and appreciated because he spends all this time with me, hours almost every day, even though he can not touch me. And still it is not like we are "playing" relationship, I know he would want to be with me if he could, still "the next best thing" is also quite good sometimes. I get to long for him, which sometimes can feel really good, and we got serious real quick, because why would we bother with a LDR if we were not really into each other? We get to know each other really well quick too, because even if sex is in the picture you have to spend most of your time talking, so emotionally everything happens a bit quicker than it might would if we lived closer.

Also, because of Skype I get to "travel" with him! I probably would not visit so soon his relatives that he sees only 2 weeks a year if I lived in Turkey, but since I daily Skype with him I have recently "met" his brother, his brother's girlfriend, his cousin etc. in addition to his friends where he lives. I think people think our skyping is cute or something. I feel strangely involved in whatever he is doing even though he is far away.

[pink elephant]

Definitely agree with an improvement on communication. We also learned to appreciate each other's time and presence whenever we visited each other and never took little things (like even going to the movies together) for granted. We also found more creative ways (when our relationship first started, Skype was still relatively new) to keep our relationship going, so I suppose we became more creative and competitive with each other (in a healthy way) on how we could find ways to express ourselves besides over a computer.

We have also been told that we are incredibly patient and strong-minded people for being in our relationship as long as we have. Development of patience is a definite.