Do Soulmates Exist

by Marie Vonow (follow)

Romance (33)      True Love (23)      Relationship (18)      Quotes (13)      Soul Mate (4)      Platonic (1)     

It all started when I decided to have a go at writing a triolet, a poem following a set format where specific lines repeat. The examples I read were mostly love related so I put together a little love poem about the belief one needs a soulmate. Then I started doing some internet research about the term and found so many conflicting ideas on the topic.

Correct spelling and definition
Some sources say soul mate as two separate words and others, soulmate.

The definition varies considerably.
According to the Cambridge dictionary -
'Someone, usually your romantic or sexual partner, who you have a special relationship with, and who you know and love very much.'
Definition of soul mate from Merriam -Webster (American) -
1:a person who is perfectly suited to another in temperament
2:a person who strongly resembles another in attitudes or beliefs

When was the term soulmate first recorded?
Numerous sources say Samuel Taylor Coleridge used the term in a letter back in 1822 and claim this was the first record of the term 'soul mate'. However, there also references to soul mate in Greek mythology which suggests the idea is much much older. Although Greek mythology was spread verbally in the early days, at some point in time it got written down.


Romantic or platonic?
Of those who believe there is such a thing as a soul mate, some feel there will be a romantic relationship and others think it can be a platonic thing.

In the TV series 'Sex and the City', Charlotte says, “Maybe our girlfriends are our soulmates and guys are just people to have fun with.”

American author Alison G. Bailey says, “The soul mate doesn’t have to be a romantic relationship. Sometimes in life, you meet people when you need them, and there is an immediate connection.”

If they do exist, how common are soulmates?
Is there a soulmate somewhere out there for each and every person? Yes, according to some. Others, including Hilary Duff (American singer, actress, producer,and writer) think it is rare to find your soulmate. She says, “Soulmate is an overused term, but a true soul connection is very rare, and very real.”

Quotes
There are plenty of quotes on the topic on the internet.

According to Australian romance author, Faye Hall, “True love is finding your soulmate in your best friend.”

“We recognize a soulmate by the supreme level of comfort and security we feel with that person. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t issues that remain to be ironed out. Rather, it means we know intuitively that we can resolve issues with our soul mate without losing his or her love and respect.” (Linda Brady)

“What greater thing is there for two human souls than to feel that they are joined to strengthen each other, to be at one with each other in silent unspeakable memories.” (Writer George Eliot)


Does one need a soulmate?
There are those who believe in soulmates and think every person needs one to make them complete. Although I don't follow this way of thinking, here is the poem I wrote about that belief.

Search For A Soulmate

After I find that elusive soulmate,
They say my life will become complete
I'll never need another blind date,
After I find that elusive soulmate,
Until that time I search and wait
Determined not to admit defeat,
After I find that elusive soulmate,
They say my life will become complete.

Conversely many believe there is no such thing.
“There is no such thing as a soulmate… and who would want there to be? I don’t want half of a shared soul. I want my own damn soul,” states NY Times Bestselling Author Rachel Cohn.

What do you think?


# Platonic
# Quotes
# Relationship
# Romance
# Soul Mate
# True Love

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