How To Stay Connected In A Long Distance Friendship: Friendship Gifts And Discussing Pop Culture

Many people may be familiar with the concept of a long-distance relationship, in which two partners live far apart and are not able to see each other very often. It can be less common to talk about a long-distance friendship, even though people may be more likely to experience that kind of distanced relationship. Long-distance friendships can be challenging, but they can also be rewarding and meaningful. 

Need help processing emotions after a friend moves away?

Connect with a therapist

Cultural and historical friendship symbols

Long-distance friendships can be defined as friendships where the physical distance between two friends makes it difficult for them to regularly see each other in person. Long-distance friends may be separated by entire oceans, continents, time zones, or states, or they may simply live across a busy city from one another, where long commute times and high levels of traffic may make it difficult to stay connected. It can take more intentionality and effort to stay friends with a long-distance friend, and not everyone may be able to make it work. However, if you are willing to put some work in, you may find that such a relationship remains unaffected by distance. 

Pop culture depictions of long-distance friendship

Pop culture loves to tell the story about two friends staying connected after one friend moves away. If your situation is similar, there are a number of movies, shows, and books you can use to find solace. 

Movies and TV shows about long-distance friendships

One blockbuster hit about long-distance friendship is The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, a movie about four teenage girls who have grown up together and now are facing the first summer of their life that they will spend apart. They discover a pair of magical blue jeans, which somehow fit each of them despite all four of them having different body types and shapes. They agree to share the jeans throughout the summer, passing them along by mail to each girl along with letters and postcards to keep each other in the loop about how their summer is going.

Another depiction of long-distance friendship is the finale of the show Broad City, which focuses on the close friendship between two women, Ilana and Abbi, who live in New York City. At the end of the show, Abbi moves away to Boulder, Colorado, leaving her best friend Ilana behind, but the two women are able to maintain their friendship by communicating with each other often. 

Books about long-distance friendship

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants movie was originally based on a book, which author Ann Brashares has expanded into a five-book series, all focused on how the four girls maintain their friendship as they grow into women and develop their separate lives in different locations. Another, more classic book that focuses on long-distance friendship is Anne of Green Gables. In the novel, the main character Anne must temporarily separate from her friend Diana when she leaves to attend boarding school. 

Long-distance friendship gift ideas

One of the more effective ways to maintain a long-distance friendship is to show that you are thinking of your friend and still value their companionship, even though you may not talk every day. Sending your friend meaningful gifts could be one way to accomplish this. 

Personalized long-distance friendship gift ideas

The most meaningful gift ideas might be those directly tailored to the lives of you and your friend. You might send your friend gifts related to their hobbies. For example, if they are a big skier, you could send them a new pair of gloves at the beginning of ski season. You could also send them small gifts that remind you of significant memories you have together, like a recipe that makes you think of a cooking class the two of you once took. 

Friendship gifts inspired by pop culture

If you and your distance friend are fans of a specific film or series, it could be fun to pick a related item of clothing that the two of you can send back and forth, along with documentation of what you did while wearing it, like pictures and postcards describing your adventures. You could choose a hat, a scarf, a T-shirt, or even something more subtle like a piece of jewelry. 

The importance of a social support system

Maintaining a network of friendships, wherever your friends are located, can be an important part of a healthy and fulfilling life. Putting in the effort to maintain those friendships—and seeking additional support—can be beneficial for your physical and mental health in the long run.   

Multiple support resources: Why you might benefit from having both a psychologist and friendship in your life

Research indicates that social support can be crucial for your overall well-being and that lack of connection with other people can have serious detrimental health consequences. If you are experiencing loneliness due to a friend moving away, it may be helpful to connect with a psychologist or a therapist. While professional boundaries prevent these positions from developing friendships with you outside of the office, they can still be a significant source of emotional support. Therapists and psychologists can listen and provide support and advice as you talk through your situation. 

An online psychologist and friendship challenges

If you are grieving a close friend moving away from you, it can be tough to attend in-person therapy sessions. In these situations, online therapy could be a helpful alternative. With online therapy, you can attend sessions from the comfort of home via audio, videoconferencing, or live chat. 

Can online therapy help with loss?

Research has found that online therapy may be just as effective as traditional in-person therapy at addressing a variety of life concerns, including those related to the grief involved with evolving close relationships. One study assessed an online therapeutic intervention to address symptoms of grief and loss and found that participating in online therapy helped to reduce grief symptoms. 

Takeaway

Long-distance friendships may require more effort than friendship with someone who lives closer to you, but that does not mean they are less meaningful or significant. If you are experiencing intense emotions about a friend moving away, you may benefit from the support of a therapist, whether in person or online. A therapist may be able to help you process your feelings and find ways to continue your friendship while expanding your support network. Take the first step toward getting support with a long-distance friendship and reach out to a therapist.