What’s love got to do with it?

After a recent argument with my beloved, a close friend said to me with worry, relationship “shouldn’t be this hard.” I agree. I shouldn’t be. But in my heart and in my mind I know that all relationships are hard. Love is hard. Loving from two separate continents is harder still. As Tapani and I  get closer to creating a life on one continent, life becomes more stressful. Yes, exciting. Yes, adventurous. But also fraught with challenges which bring a rain of high emotion. Each day is a new journey and sometimes a new battle.

Couples who live in the same town can experience high stress when faced with moving in together or marriage. Imagine what this is like when you are moving to another continent? It’s not always going to be cake and roses. Time zone differences, separation, packing ones belongings, fear, excitement… they all lend to a mix of emotions that can be dangerous brew. Communicating with your partner on a regular basis via sms or phone is not ideal. Much gets lost in the way of 140 characters or phone conversations late at night. Misunderstandings, crossed connections and assumptions can be the order of the day. I sometimes think that this relationship of fourteen years is nothing short of a miracle. Or is it just love?