Merriam Webster:

Main Entry:

soul mate

1 : a person who is perfectly suited to another in temperament

2 : a person who strongly resembles another in attitudes or beliefs <ideological soul mates>

I’ve often shied away from the term “soul-mate” in the past. It always seemed to indicate finality, an inevitability that I didn’t like. As if there was no way for my life to be complete without this one mysterious unknown person. I’ve never looked up the actual definition before this post started brewing but the definition I eventually subscribed to is pretty much above. I should’ve just asked Merriam-Webster and saved myself a lot of angst.

During a recent discussion about “being lost in someone without losing yourself”, I commented that it was very much a possibility. Honestly, I was partially lying. I have wanted, and have been, totally lost in Jon. I’ve found that I don’t want to be “me” and “him”. I want to be “us”. I want to be “we”. I want to be part of a team, a unified being. Part of “me” has been exchanged for part of “us”. I haven’t given up all sense of self. Instead, I am enhanced by this connection. My spirit is stronger, my dreams brighter. All that is worthwhile within me is enhanced by a tenfold simply by opening myself to this connection. I don’t expect life to be kittens and rainbows. I don’t expect things to always be easy. What I DO expect, is that neither of us will give up. That we are both 100% committed to this working. Neither of us will accept the idea that there is any other option. WE are the only option. And with that knowledge, with that certainty, I can place myself in his hands for safekeeping. I can confidently relinquish the last vestment of my stubborn self. Am I now needy and dependent and unable to function on my own? Absolutely not. But I’m also no longer focused on my independence and self sufficiency. Those traits are still a part of me but they no longer define my life. My life is no longer solely mine. My life belongs to this relationship. Fully and completely. I’ve found my soul-mate and with him, I’ve found peace and a completeness I never knew existed.