Meghan And Serena's Texts Show The Unyielding Power Of Long-Distance Friendships

The tennis star said they message one another for advice ๐Ÿ’—

We read a lot about long-distance relationships, but long-distance friendships can be just as powerful, as Serena Williams and Meghan Markle know.

The pair have frequently spoken about their friendship since Meghan moved to the UK, and during a recent appearance on Australian TV show โ€˜The Projectโ€™, Serena revealed that despite the distance, they still go to each other often for advice and support.

โ€œWe were actually just texting each other this morning,โ€ said the tennis champ. โ€œWe have known each other for a long time, but we really kind of are relying on each other a lot recently.โ€

Even without the glamorous, jet-setting lifestyles of Meghan and Serena, when you make a new friend you truly connect with, distance becomes inconsequential.

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Dani Nicholls, who lives in London, met her American pal Arianna when she was completing a university semester abroad in the UK. Arianna is now based in New York, but the pair still consider each other best friends.

โ€œWe usually text, send way too many memes and cooking tutorial videos, along with FaceTime most weeks, for a proper catch up,โ€ Dani says.

โ€œI think we have similar outlooks on life and ambitions. We relate to each otherโ€™s struggles and celebrate each otherโ€™s achievements. For me, sheโ€™s absolutely the no judgement advice friend, but can also tell me the hard truths.โ€

Dani Nicholls (right) and her friend Arianna.
Dani Nicholls
Dani Nicholls (right) and her friend Arianna.

Like Dani and Arianna, Jessica Rose and her friend Anne rely on technology to help them keep their friendship alive. They met in 2007 when they were both English teachers in Japan and after Jessica moved back home and Anne stayed on, they used Facebook messenger to catch up. Theyโ€™ve recently moved to Signal (a communications app similar to Whatsapp), which also enables calls โ€œwhen timezones and schedules alignโ€.

โ€œWeโ€™re both wonderfully driven, though in very different ways,โ€ Jessica says. โ€œWeโ€™re very alike in many ways, and bounce ideas and concerns off of each other to verify or challenge the judgements weโ€™re making. Though weโ€™re far apart now, she remains one of the most important supports in my life and I hope Iโ€™m offering her some of the same.โ€

Luke McDowell, whoโ€™s based in Manchester, tries to make a trip to see his best friend Olivia face-to-face in Amsterdam whenever possible. The pair became friends as teens when they both worked in a local garden centre โ€“ โ€œnothing bonds people like horticultural retail!โ€ โ€“ and still speak daily since Olivia moved abroad.

โ€œWe have very similar humour and are at very similar points in our lives,โ€ Luke explains. โ€œWhilst other friends are settling down, weโ€™re both single and think we are absolutely hilarious. Our interests are very aligned as well โ€“ we love discussing everything from politics to [our] shared obsession with country music. I literally canโ€™t imagine not being in contact with her!

โ€œWe both use each other for advice, and if I have an issue sheโ€™s one of the first people I would run to.โ€

Luke McDowell and his friend Olivia.
Luke McDowell
Luke McDowell and his friend Olivia.

For Luke, regular contact is key to maintaining a long distance friendship, though Dani says: โ€œIf you donโ€™t speak for a week or so, donโ€™t stressโ€“ thatโ€™s just life.โ€

Others at HuffPost HQ opt for good old-fashioned letter writing or postcards to stay in touch with friends afar and show them some love, while some say setting your phone clock to show your mateโ€™s local time can also keep you connected and help with organising calls.

Kate Leaver, journalist and author of The Friendship Cure, speaks to her long-distance friend every day by text, but says: โ€œSome friendships can go long stretches of time without needing constant upkeep and those are equally lovely. Itโ€™s about finding what works for you and your mates.โ€

If you or your friend moves away, she advises having a chat about how you might stay in touch and utilising the many options modern technology provides. from FaceTime to Instagram DM. โ€œEvery friendship has its own language, itโ€™s just about finding the right platform for yours,โ€ she says.

To maximise your chances of feeling close to the person who is cities or oceans away, she recommends making time for proper, meaningful chats.

โ€œItโ€™s easy to get busy and have shallow interactions (which are good fun in their own way), but if youโ€™re going to maintain intimacy with someone youโ€™ve got to be vulnerable, candid and open,โ€ she says. โ€œMake an effort to do that regularly and you should be able to make it between visits more easily.โ€

Who knows? Go the real distance, and one day you might even get to be guest of honour at your friendโ€™s wedding.

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