As someone who has been lucky enough to live in a few different cities – London, Sydney and New York – as well as my native Melbourne, I have cherished friends in all sorts of places. But the older I get, I realise there is a price to pay. The other day, while in my New York City apartment, a friend in Melbourne sent me a photo of the gorgeous abode another friend was renting for a huge celebration, and I realised I probably wouldn’t be able to make it.
The feeling reminded me of when I was living in Sydney, missing another friend’s wedding in the UK’s Devon countryside (ferry boat and all). The whole thing made me wonder if I’m forever destined to be missing a friend somewhere. It appears accumulating friendships of varying depths is almost mandatory as we take in what the globe has to offer.
But what happens when you inevitably part? I haven’t lived in the same city as my best friend for more than two decades. Am I sick of missing them? You bet. Picking up the phone regularly is a good place to start.
Credit: iStock “The fact that you miss them is testament to the connection that you have,” says Associate Professor Michelle Lim, chief executive of Ending Loneliness Australia. “But you have to manage that loss of connection. It’s just a matter of how often and what’s possible.
” What is possible when it comes to long-distance friendships? How can we keep them strong, whether we’re in different cities, states or time zones? Find new ways to share th.