5 posts tagged “romance”
"After All" by Al Jarreau is one of the purest and heartfelt love songs ever written. I first heard it in an audiotape letter given to me 15 years ago.
AFTER ALL
By Al Jarreau
There, there was a time I knew
That no matter, come what may, love
would prevail
And then inside the dreams I knew
Came the question lovers fear
Can true love fail
Then I would miss the childhood wish
And haven't I sung to you
Of the knight in armor bright
Faithful and true to you
Darling, after all
I will be the one to hold you in my arms
After all
I will be the one to hold you
I will be the one to hold you in my arms
In my arms
I know in my heart and mind
That no matter, come what may, love will survive
And love, the author of space and time
Keeps the galaxies and each sparrow alive
And the love that heals the wound
After the war is through
Is the knight in armor bright
Faithful and true to you
To add hope and love for the new year, I decided to search for the most helpful and inspirational internet sites I could find for love poems, quotes, lyrics, and LDR support. Here is what I found:
Long Distance Relationship locution sites
Love poems
www.poetry.com/greatestpoems/listlove.asp
Love quotes
www.romantic-lyrics.com/lovequotes.shtml
Song lyrics. Some song artists weren’t listed, but I was able to find the songs by title.
www.romantic-lyrics.com/romanticlyrics.shtml
Long Distance Relationship support sites
How-to
A link with how-to-make-this-LDR-last-forever tips
www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Long-Distance-Relationship-Work
Communication problems in your LDR?
You might not agree with everything Health online magazine columnist David Zinczenko has to say, but some women may be interested in checking out these entertaining, thought-provoking, and well-written articles on the behaviors and inner-workings of men.
health.yahoo.com/experts/menlovesex/73762/why-men-don-t-talk/
The Center for the Study of Long Distance Relationships. This site was created for Dr. Gregory Guldner, author of Long Distance Relationships: The Complete Guide.
Check out LDR books by clicking on the Bookstore tab. Visit the informative Resources for Couples section by clicking on the tab
www.longdistancerelationships.net/
Long Distance Relationship books
Amazon
Borders
Barnes & Noble
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/results.asp?WRD=long+distance+relationships&z=y
Today I received in the mail a literary review from Writer's Digest for my published book, The Long Distance Relationship Guidebook, for entering it in a worldwide contest (alas, I didn't win the Grand Prize:). The following are the Judge's comments on what she liked the best about my book:
You offer an interesting, needed, easy-to-read product. I like the personal stories (Case studies)
sprinkled throughout, and the practical tips. The book's title are complimentary and front cover graphics
helps portray romance.
Speaking of romance, I thought of my eight most favorite romantic films for LDR couples to watch:
Long Distance Relationship Interview
The following questions and answers are based on an interview conducted by Cassandra Kapp, an award-winning first year journalism student at Northwestern University.
What’s an LDR?
An LDR is a relationship in which a couple regularly spends time apart from each other whether days, weeks, months, or years.
To me, LDRs are a kind of glorified relationship, one that is full of romance and excitement, and urgency and celebration, harkening back to the medieval times of courtly love A strong loving LDR is one of the powerful, awe-inspiring kind of relationship you may ever experience in your life.
Cultural profile of a student coming to college in an LDR:
LDRs among incoming college students are more common these days because there are many cheap and fast ways to stay in touch. I think incoming freshmen in LDRs started their relationship in high school and doesn’t want to end it simply because their locations differ. I think it is a mature thing to do, to stay with that partner even though it may be personally and socially inconvenient at times. Making a dedicated attempt to stay together shows flexibility, a willingness to compromise, and dedication. All of these qualities are crucial for turning any ordinary relationship into an extraordinary one.
Now that it has become more affordable and common for younger people to travel, they do just that—travel across the world and wind up falling in love with someone from another country, most likely speaking a different native language. Normally these affairs might be labeled summer romances, but now since communications and transportation has become cheaper and easier, there isn’t a good reason for a couple to simply split up (if they are truly in love) unless they prefer only to be in a relationship in which their partner is physically present, or if they believe it is impossible to be together in the future.
What are some other qualities needed in an LDR?
Love is necessary and having a romantic nature helps too, but also:
- Respect
- Determination
- Openness
Are college students more or less successful in maintaining LDRs than older adults?
I think if a strong love is shared by two people, whether young or old, then the couple will survive the obstacles. Older couples in LDRs, such as the ones serving the war overseas, often have practical reasons such as kids and a house, in addition to feeling a strong bond. However, when it comes to love in its purest form, I would say that college students are more successful at maintaining their LDR than older people, simply because younger people often have more energy and passion in everything they do; they are hopeful and excited about love and believe in the good of its power.
How does long distance affect a couple in general?
Absence prevents the daily interweaving of events, big and small, in each other’s lives, which is crucial to feeling emotionally connected to each other. But with a lot of effort, you can interlock your lives together so that your relationship is resistant to vulnerabilities.
How do LDRs affect students in particular?
In addition to juggling school, work, hobbies, and friendships, a lot of time and energy is needed to maintain an LDR. Some people argue that non-LDRs are more time-consuming because the partner is right there, but at least those couples can overlap their activities, such as eat and talk or study at the same time.
In my opinion, LDRs often cut into time a student should probably be studying or sleeping due to long hours many LDR couples spend on the phone most nights.
Socially and personally: Some students find that their social life is imbalanced. If you’re too involved with your relationship because you’re always flying back and forth and glued to the phone or internet, then your LDR may overshadow your social and personal life.
Financially: Students don’t always have a lot of money left over at the end of the month or semester due to phone bills, flights, hotel stays or extravagant visits and gifts.
Academically: Everybody loves a good reason to put off writing a paper. When you’re having a problem that you’re not able to resolve in your LDR, it can be very difficult to concentrate on the task at hand.
Emotionally and mentally: If you are in an LDR, you have to expect some ups and downs as in any relationship, except that in LDRs they can be more intense and frequent. These emotions and mental states include depression, jealousy, guilt, demotivation, distraction, and an inability to enjoy university life.
It can be a lonely path at times since the partner isn’t around to share all the triumphs and disappointments. On the other hand, it is important to remain grateful that they are blessed with having someone special in their life, even if he or she lives 3,000 miles away.
What advice can you give to students in LDRs?
Sometimes phoning and chatting aren’t possible when time zones clash and there you are sitting in class feeling distracted because your boyfriend who lives 1,000 miles away hasn’t contacted you in two days.
Find as many ways as possible to interweave your lives together so that it is as richly textured and tightly woven as if you were an emotionally close couple physically together.
Imagine a braided rope. Each strand symbolizes a way that you relate daily to your partner. One strand represents reach out to your partner, for example sending a postcard or a CD compilation. Another strand represents interacting with your partner such as phoning or video conferencing. The third way signifies synchronizing your actions, for example watching the moon or eating the same kind of chocolate at the same time. The more strands you use to braid your rope, the more resilient it will be to stress and strain. This idea of synchronicity is in the “Cruising Altitude” chapter my book The Long Distance Relationship Guidebook.
Any other advice for LDR couples?
Remember that even though things don’t go according to your expectations sometimes, that it doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong with your relationship or partner. Learn to express your concerns in a straightforward, calm way when you are not upset. Pour as much positive energy as you can into your relationship—make this time the most memorable and breath-taking stage of your relationship.
Please visit my LDR blog again soon and contribute your own LDR concerns and experiences.
I’ll leave you now with an inspirational quote: "Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you; they're supposed to help you discover who you are." ~ Bernice Johnson Reagon (singer, songwriter, historian).
Sincerely,
Sylvia Shipp
Author of The Long Distance Relationship Guidebook
When I was writing my book, The Long Distance Relationship Guidebook, I had originally intended to include some poems that underscored each chapter topic. In the end, I decided to go with the international flight theme and so the poems didn't fit well in the book anymore.
However, I adore those poems and want to share some of my favorites with you. The following poem was sent to me by a great friend of a friend from . This is the 2,676th poem in Man'yoshu, Japan's oldest and most highly revered collection of poems.
"Hisakatano amatobukumoni ariteshika kimiwobaaimimu otsuruhinashini"
"If I were a cloud which goes around in the sky, I could go see you every single day"
I love this poem. Just a few telling words give you that floating, intoxicated feeling of being in love, and the bliss you get from seeing your partner's face.
Since our location is Japan, I'd like to share interesting kanji symbols I stumbled across. Is it me, or do the symbols look like they're smiling?
Romance (Renai) 
to take the plunge into the intrepid waters of a long distance relationship. Okay, I'll give you ten good reasons!
1. How often does the possibility of a great love come a person's way? In the eloquent words of the famous Lebanese poet Khalil Gibran, "When love beckons to you, follow him, though his ways are hard and steep."
2. You have to take some positive-oriented risks if you want good things to come your way. Draw upon your deep-seated emotional courage to love and be loved, and allow yourself to get romantically swept up for once (given the signs look favorable).
3. Enjoy love the old-fashioned way has nothing to do with horse-drawn carriages or gas-lamp lights. Rather, loving someone from a distance can be very appealing to the romantic at heart. Writing long love letters, waiting unpatiently for a romantic reply, and daydreaming all harken back to the medieval days of courtly love.
4. Enjoy the most passionate, bittersweet, romantic, and exciting periods in your life. Long distance relationships can mean tearful hellos and goodbyes, steadfast vows, inspired exchanges of gifts, long stretches of honeymoon-like excitement, many beautiful stay-in-the-moment moments.
5. Reveal many aspects of your inner qualities and interests slowly over time that might not be exposed as readily in a non-long distance relationship.
6. Communication is easier, cheaper, and faster these days. What is your favorite way to talk with someone far away?
7. Travel is easier, cheaper, and faster these days. For instance, have you checked out the mega-travel search engine www.kayak.com for good travel deals?
8. LDR couples enjoy more guidance and support on the internet and in books these days. One of the more practical and well-balanced LDR guidebooks is my own, The Long Distance Relationship Guidebook, which is featured on this site and is sold through most online bookstores.
9. Being part of a long distance twosome means lots of wonderful excuses to stretch yourself in ways that otherwise in close proximity might be difficult. These include generosity of love and spirit, semi-reckless romantic abandonment, honing of verbal and physical expression, and the opportunity to iron out old destructive relationship habits before uniting permanently.
10. You only live once.
