soulmates

“True love is the soul’s recognition of its counterpoint in another.” ~Wedding Crashers

As someone who believes heavily in fate, destiny, and that which is “meant to be” I would have to say my answer to this week’s theme question is a yes. At least on the surface.

The question asks “Do you believe everybody has a soulmate?” which to me would imply that they’re asking about one specific soulmate. I don’t believe that everyone has just one soulmate, but rather a lot of them. I believe that everyone has a certain set of people that they just connect so deeply and completely with, that they’ll somehow encounter these people at some point in their lives. This is not limited to just the soulmate that everybody thinks of as being the one person, romantically, that you’re meant to spend the rest of your life with. A soulmate can be a teacher, a best friend, a coworker, even a family member. Your soulmates are any person that you connect with on a level so deep it can’t be explained. Someone who has influenced you so greatly that your life is changed forever. Here’s where it gets tricky. I believe (to a small extent) in reincarnation. My definition of “soulmate” as it applies to that, is someone who you are just so connected with that your souls will seek each other out in every life. The person who is your best friend in this life might be your daughter in the next. They could be your teacher in this life and your lover in the next.

My grandmother was my soulmate. My sisters are my soulmates. The Penguins (most of them–I must admit I don’t share that deep level of closeness with all of them) are my soulmates. Some of my friends that I’ve met online, through the magic of OD– some of y’all are my soulmates. Even Jim…

Now here’s an interesting development. Because Jim is a romantic interest, and I just called him my soulmate. I think what differs between my view of a soulmate and other people’s views of it is that I don’t think that your (romantic) soulmate necessarily has to be the one you spend the rest of your life with. In fact, you could spend the rest of your life with someone who’s not your soulmate, and still be happy. Do I believe that Jim is my soulmate? Absolutely 100% yes. I have NEVER connected with anyone the way that I connect with him. We are just (almost) perfect for each other. Do I forsee myself spending the rest of my life with him? Maybe. But maybe not.

Now isn’t that a scary thought? The person who is your “soulmate” may not necessarily be the person that you’re “meant” to be with. Yes, I do think there is a ONE. You know, THE ONE person meant for you to be with forever and ever and ever (at least in this lifetime). But I reiterate, I don’t know that THE ONE will necessarily be a soulmate. I know a lot of people won’t agree with me… But thats what I feel.