Is it possible to love family even though you don't see them for a long time?
By Carl Halling
@CarlHalling (3617)
United Kingdom
August 27, 2011 1:37pm CST
My reply is: Of course. I mean: we all do this to a degree. I have family members I love I've not seen for a long time (sometimes a very long time). But then, what is a long time? For some, not seeing their parents for a week is a long time; for others, not seeing them for a month is a long time; for others still, not seeing them for a single day (!) is a long time. It's all relative (no pun intended). How about you? Do you think it's possible? I mean...to not see loved ones...parents, children, cousins, for a long time. Yet still love them? Of course it is! But...how, why? How do we do this? If we love, do we not wish to see? Or is it enough they are on this planet? Is love predicated on their being here...any time we wish to see them; or call them? I mean...I often lean heavily on my mother. When I'm low, it's a comfort to know she'll answer the phone. To know she's there if I want to call. Whenever I want to call. Do you feel that way about a special relative? So; as I say, where do you stand on all this? What are your feelings? Let's talk relatives, time and distance, can we?
2 people like this
12 responses
@bravobrino (70)
• India
28 Aug 11
hello Carl please don't mind if i am wrong.But what you say is very confusing to me,as love for family members be near or far can't whither in any way.In fact love builds stronger while they are away from us.I use to be in a different place now with my own family and at times i misss my parents and loved ones who are some 3000 thousand far from the city we are living.I don't know what others feel about their family members,but as for me a mere phone call doesn't make me feel better from beingfeeling home sick
1 person likes this
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
12 Feb 12
I felt like that when I was at school far away from home; I'd phone home...but I'd still feel sad afterwards.
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
28 Aug 11
Can I love a person even though I don't see them? One word Yes! Can just hearing from them make me feel close to them? Yes! Why? Because of the connection is still strong. I know I feel this way about a certain Englishman. He and I were close and he is still owns a special place in my heart and always will.Do we talk as often as before? No. Do I know if I every need him I can write and he will be there? Yes! So I know exactly what you mean.
1 person likes this
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
30 Aug 11
Very well put, Sarah, thank you...:o)
1 person likes this
@soulist (2985)
• United States
30 Aug 11
I think you can love family even if you don't see them for a long time. They are family and I think you would have that family love for them. I have family I havent seen for years, and I still love them the same. Facebook is awesome for me to keep in contact with my family who live in various parts of the country.
1 person likes this
@sender621 (14894)
• United States
28 Aug 11
Love is a powerful emotion. it can not ne measured or erased by time or distance. just because a loved one is far away from us does not mean that we love them any more or any less than we did when we last saw them. Love is in the heart. it is not in the miles. @06MLam (620)
•
28 Aug 11
I think this would be possible depending on how hard you have worked on it. I have been studying in the UK for 2 years and I still manage to keep in touch with my family by calling them every week. Sometimes loving some one does not just mean by saying I love you to he or she but you can show your love by action.
1 person likes this
@moneywinner (1864)
• Brazil
30 Aug 11
Of course we can! Sometimes, I stay a long time without seeing my family and when I get home, it seems that I never left. I have to say that I don't have a close relationship with my uncles, aunts and cousins, so, I don't really miss them and they live really far away. But, my dad, my mom and my sister I miss them a lot and I usually see them every 15 days.
1 person likes this
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
14 Feb 12
Yes, you are right, of course we can, thanks for responding, moneywinner.
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
29 Aug 11
Yes. I can love them from a distance but I do not want to be around some of them either. I miss one of them very much but she wants nothing to do with me right now because she is too immature.
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
27 Aug 11
If I love and care for someone, I don't think any amount of distance and or time will change my feelings. In fact I believe that if I do love someone and there comes a time that I finally get to see this person, I would be so happy and thrilled as if it were the first time, I began to have the feelings for the person.
The memories I would have will always grow us to be stronger and that is something that will not be forgotten.
@iva75cpb (729)
• Bulgaria
28 Aug 11
Of course it is possible to love your family despite not seeing them for a long time. Long distances and long time should never be an issue here. It's an unconditional love and nature made it that way. For example, my parents live half across the country away from me and I see them several times a year. That doesn't reduce my love for them or their love for me, either. On the contrary, we love each other more and more. Just like you said, maybe it's because they're just on the planet. Or simply because they are MY parents. I don't know... All I know for sure is that I love them unconditionally and no matter how far away they are, no matter how rarely I see them, I will always love them. Have a nice chatting and thanks for the great existential question!
1 person likes this
@pbbbsra (1214)
• Philippines
27 Aug 11
I also think that distance won't change the love we have for our families and close friends. My dad is working abroad since I was like 7 or 8. He comes home once a year for a month and leaves again. But I love him still like he is with me everyday. Now that I am married, I have to leave my mom home. I love them same like before and I love them even more everyday. Nothing changed except that I love them even more and miss them so much. The love becomes more when distance come in between families. I am also far from my best friends now but every time we talk online or over the phone, we're still like as we were before. Nothing changed... Me and my husband were away from each other for a year before we got married, and during those moments that we are far, nothing changed with the love. The distance just made us and the love grow stronger
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
30 Aug 11
It seems love not only survives distance but becomes stronger! Thank you.
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
1 Sep 11
I agree that distance does not affect our love for family and close friends. All the family I have left is my brother and his family and my cousins, most of whom I've never met. I just got back in touch with the one of my distant cousins I have met, and we are now FB friends. My brother and his wife and sons are also FB friends, but they don't post very often.
I do love my brother and nephews, but we only actually see each other once or twice a year for holidays, since they live about five hours away in good traffic. I talk to my brother on the phone about once a month unless there is more than usual going on in either family. My elder nephew is in school several states away, but we were so happy he came to see us on his break. He used to live with us for a year many years ago.
It is wonderful that modern technology makes it so easy to keep in touch with loved ones who are far away. Unfortunately it can only connect us with those still on this earth. I think one's love for family members does not die when they do, and they will always live in our hearts until we join them.
