Soul mate...we all use this word so loosely but what does it really mean? Originally the definition of a soul mate was essentially one person split into two bodies. As the myth goes, there once was a time when all humans had four arms, four legs, one head with two faces, and both sets of male and female genitalia. Apparently, Zeus separated the human straight down the center as punishment for being proud and in fear that together they were too strong. There have been many variations to this story but in short, that's the gist of it. Over time the term soul mates slightly transformed into a more general meaning. Today soul mate means two people who were meant to be... two souls that have become like one. Two people who fit perfectly together, like peanut butter and jelly. Like ketchup and mustard. Like pizza and pineapples. Maybe that last one is just me but isn't that line of thinking sort of a fairy tale mentality. I mean I know no one really believes humans actually had two faces at one point in time, but what I'm trying to say is that the whole idea of finding a perfectly functional relationship (one with no friction and no arguments) is kind of a fantasy. As a matter of fact, I believe it's completely unrealistic. Don't get me wrong I do believe two souls can "mate". But I have a different way of defining a soul mate.

I feel as though one can find such comfort in a friendship that their very cores have formed a connection. They've bonded to the next level and the only way to truly describe that type of connection is by use of the term soul mate. In an average friendship, two people have bonded due to personality traits. With a soul mate it'seems much deeper than commonalities in characteristics. But I don't necessarily believe that term is designated for just one individual. I don't believe that throughout your whole life you only meet one soul mate. I don't think you can only find that type of connection with just one person.

As rare as it may be, I think your soul can mate with several different people. I found a soul mate in friendship before and I can tell you it's a different type of understanding between the two of you. It's like Meredith and Cristina on Grey's Anatomy or like Cory and Shawn on Boy Meets World. It is my belief that relationships take work and commitment. Something that society's idea of a soul mate is supposed to substitute. In all reality a soul mate cannot override the effort that must go into any type of relationship (especially a romantic one) but when it comes to a friendship there is a place for it.