If I had a dollar for every time I heard someone say, “long-distance relationships don’t work,” I would be buying out all of the Costco pizzas I could get my hands on.

I’m calling BS.

I’ve been in a long-distance relationship for about one year now and I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.

Sometimes when I tell people, they look at me as if I’ve just shape-shifted into Annie Reed from “Sleepless in Seattle.”

I don’t spend all of my time sitting in a dark corner of a room with a lit candle writing love letters. I certainly don’t mope around and complain all the time about our geographical distance from each other. I was never really good at that class anyway.

The truth is, we are just like any other couple. It really doesn’t matter how far away you are from your significant other. When apart, communication is key and as long as that is maintained, long-distance relationships are a lot easier than most think.

I’m not going to lie, there will be rough times. Beyond just the obvious fact that you can’t see your significant other as much as you’d like, it does take a toll emotionally. I’ve become more into my phone than I used to be, and sometimes when I see other couples together in public, I resist the urge to scowl.

Knowing this, I have decided the struggles that come with a long-distance relationship are well worth it. It’s not always going to be easy, but here is why it works for me:

• · When I see my boyfriend after a long period of time, I can’t seem to wipe that goofy smile off of my face. Even after one year, he still gives me butterflies.
• · Being away from each other allows us to focus on school and other relationships we have with friends and family.
• · Even when we’re apart, there’s always ways to keep that fire burning. Putting a sexy spin on regular forms of communication, like texting, Snapchat and FaceTime, has been a great way to keep the spark alive.
• · There is always something to look forward to whether it’s the next time you’re going to see them, or even that simple text or phone call.

These types of relationships do work. Remember to keep that communication strong, always spice things up and don’t let that evil little monster named distance win.

I love my boyfriend, and 209.8 miles isn’t going to change that.

Stephanie Schmieding can be reached at [email protected] or @stephbottt on twitter.