3 Ingredients to a Successful Relationship as Told by Bridget and Jake

During the time of COVID-19 and the spread of the global pandemic, it was tragically commonplace for negative emotions and darkness to overtake our lives as we sought to navigate our way through uncertain times. For Bridget and Jake, they were no strangers to these frequent experiences. However, in the midst of it all, they managed to find each other, and consequently, found the light in their individual lives as well as their strength as a couple. When listening to the couple talk about their journey as romantic partners, the ease in their banter and ultimate comfort with each other shines through soft smiles and the exchange of warm looks.

The couple met while they were attending college, as both were involved in Greek life through a fraternity and sorority. The first spark that initially attracted them to each other, as well as keeps them strong today, is their passion for laughter. After their first encounter, both Bridget and Jake had an instinctual feeling that they would come together as a couple. As Bridget explains, the two had to be patient, and “just had to get the timing right.” Bridget’s first impression of Jake was that he was hilarious as well as handsome, and she asked a mutual friend for his contact info. However, the unexpected change of COVID life made things difficult despite their initial attraction for each other. Jake lived in Seattle at the time, and when they first began dating they operated as a long distance relationship, flying between states to spend time with each other. Even though they were far in distance, Bridget and Jake managed to maintain their closeness. Through trust in their connection and faith that they had run across someone truly special, they persevered through these hard times until Jake decided to move to Colorado. Despite the challenges, Jake maintains that Bridget was, “The one thing in life making [him] happy,” and this ray of light was enough to push through the negativity of the COVID crisis.

Laughter

When reminiscing on the moments in the past that have brought them where they are today, Bridget and Jake smiled tenderly as they discussed one of their favorite memories on Bridget’s birthday. During the tail end of COVID, the pair decided to wake up early and head to Arches National Park to watch the sunrise. Bridget chuckled as she recalled not only the beautiful sight, but the delicious burritos they shared as the sun rose. Bridget and Jake teach a valuable lesson to never stop dating your best friend. Throughout their conversation, their frequent laughter radiates a certain lightness that is a result of the time spent to allow trust to blossom.

Vulnerability

This isn’t to say that the entirety of their relationship has been without struggle. Speaking to some of the challenges in the past, Bridget expressed how she experienced an initial frustration with Jake not opening himself up to her as to the same extent that she was. Both Bridget and Jake stressed the importance of emotional vulnerability in order to keep a relationship strong, and this is no easy task. They advised how it takes constant work, and that the tough work can be extremely rewarding once you get it right. In a truly heartwarming moment, Bridget reflected on the time when she noticed Jake first starting to open up to her. He spoke of his mother who was battling cancer at the time, and the way in which he described how he cared for her brought tears to Bridget’s eyes. Jake had grown to open up to Bridget and started to trust her with his heart and the deeper parts of his life, and the weight was not lost on her. She wiped tears from her eyes with a smile, and Jake grabbed her hand in comfort. “I’m crying in the club!” she joked.

Communication

Looking at this couple, it is clear to see what hard work, open communication, and constant effort can turn into. The beauty of their love is that they never stop working at it. Their wisdom to share with other couples is to never stop dating each other. What they adore about each other is the constant spontaneity that they bring into each other’s lives. Whether it is a sudden adventure or a lazy Sunday on the couch, the couple emphasizes the need to schedule times for intimacy. What can be learned through watching their interaction is that relationships require both partners to put in the work from the ground up. Starting as strong individuals leads to couples acting as strong partners. With laughter and communication everywhere in between, Bridget and Jake teach us what it means to open yourself up to love, trust, and a lifetime of adventure with the person of your dreams.

Love Stories

Planning

18 min

The Ups and Downs of Long Distance: Learning to Take the Leap through Sky and Lucinda

By Rachel Becher

Meet Lucinda and Sky, a couple that represent their love in such a genuine and wholesome manner that onlookers cannot help but be taken by their youthful infatuation with each other. They operate as individuals as well as a couple through a wistful romanticism, and their carefree bliss exudes through their interactions together.

The couple met four years ago while they were in New Zealand training for ski racing, and locked eyes when they were both at dinner. This chance meeting led to circumstances that neither of them anticipated, and put them on a path that has led them to the ultimate connection. For Sky, when he first saw Lucinda, it was “love at first sight.” This view is apparent in the way he glances at Lucinda and how he attentively watches her as she speaks.It is clear the spark is just as strong today as it was that first time he laid eyes on her. Sky asked Lucinda out on a coffee date due to their shared adoration of caffeine (Lucinda playfully describes Sky as a “coffee snob”), and Lucinda admits that at the time she didn’t realize she was on a date. She also didn’t realize that she was about to take the first step towards finding the love of her life. On their first “official date,” after their coffee meetup, Lucinda realized she returned love for Sky when she saw him play guitar for the first time. Because Sky was from Alaska and Lucinda lived in the United Kingdom, initially they thought their encounter was fleeting. However, after starting to spend some time with each other, they came to realize that this moment was more than a chance meeting. Their relationship developed, and even though the two lived on opposite ends of the world, Sky knew that Lucinda was something special. The thought of separating after their time in New Zealand seemed bleak, however their connection was strong enough that they decided to embark on the task of a long term relationship.

The pair stayed apart for a month initially, and throughout their relationship they ended up staying apart from each other for a maximum of four months. Their wisdom and experience in this matter is worth sharing. Sky and Lucinda do not claim that long distance was easy by any stretch of the imagination. With Sky moving from Colorado to Alaska and Lucinda moving from France to the United Kingdom, the couple was facing a nine hour time difference. Lucinda recalls staying up until 2:00 am just to speak to Sky. This trust and resilience within each other led them to strengthen the foundation of their relationship, even to the point where they both profess that they worked just as well apart as they do together.

After their period of distance, the couple moved into a studio apartment in Colorado, taking the next step and truly committing to their journey together. With the spread of COVID-19, the two found themselves stuck in a small space together, very much the antithesis of their long distance relationship. They made friends with another couple in their building, and through their shared experience they were able to survive the storm of the virus.

The hallmark of this couple is their unrelenting dedication through times of hardship. Sky unfortunately suffered from a skiing accident in which he had to have multiple surgeries. During this process, Lucinda drove him to and from his procedures and remained by his side to assist in his recovery. Truly a team who rolls with the punches, Lucinda even drove four hours to Sky when his car broke down on his way to Steamboat and burst into flames. When faced with so many daunting challenges, marriage must appear to be a breeze compared to the hurdles that they have already worked through together. What remains so impressive about their relationship is their unwavering trust for each other and the firm belief that the difficulties will always be worth the struggle if they come out together on the other end.

When it comes to long distance, arguably the couples’ greatest challenge, Lucinda was candid in saying it’s, “never going to be fun.” But the advice Sky and Lucinda offer is poignant. They maintain the best way to survive long distance is always to have a plan to meet, even if it is five months in the future. This mindset reassures that one day you will be back in the arms of the person you love, even through the bitterness of separation. Their closing words remain true of any relationship, but exhibit that they share the same mindset that has contributed to their success together. They encourage people to take the leap into their relationships and trust their gut when it comes to risks. Inhibitions have only held these two back, and by truly embracing each other they have soared to new heights as a team. “You won’t know until you try,” Sky offered. Their experience is one to admire and appreciate. Their connection is proof that through effort, dedication, and a little bit of fate, love can survive any distance.