Soulmate.

Soulmate - there are endless definitions to this word. Even Wikipedia has a say in it. Each individual will surely have their own perception of what a soulmate is. However, I believe that a soulmate could or could not be a mirror image of oneself. A soulmate may or may not enjoy the same things that you may like.

Plato wrote that ones' soulmate is the the other half of a whole person, where a man and woman simply existed in one body and was subsequently cut in half by Zeus, king of the Gods. This action then resulted in people looking for their other halves to make them whole again. However, the ending to this story was definitely not a happy one, for it only encouraged the eternal search of idealized love and a lifetime of profound sadness should they not succeed.

The movies made based on this word are countless: Made in Heaven, Chances Are, What Dreams May Come, Serendipity. Each film was made based on one's search for perfection, for self-completion and the desire to belong. But these are movies-happily-ever-after, which often projects an altogether different set of consequences from reality itself.

I once had a soulmate and I loved him for countless reasons. Just by being with him simply made me a better person; he brought out qualities in me that even I had not realized existed within my realms. My soulmate made my heart beat faster and slower at the same time. He made me want to live each day as if it were my first day in this world. I looked upon every occurence (good or bad) as an important life lesson, a precious memory that I could reflect back on and cherish.

Previously, I had looked upon the world with cynicism and I regarded people with impatience. With him, I cultivated tolerance and patience; two simple virtues that most seemed to lack these days. I searched for the best qualities in others, and when I could not find any, I celebrated their diversities. My soulmate and I shared similar passions, we had almost identical thoughts, we were on the same wavelength in trends, in music and movies, literature and most importantly in humor. Yet funnily, I sensed that he was my total opposite. Like me, he also seemed to be searching for something that he lacked in his life; what it is/was, I could not put my finger on it. I say this because although he was my soulmate, the feelings were not reciprocated as he felt that his soulmate was another. Thus, I did not and could not complete him, and him, me.

But in the end all that did not really matter, for I have come to a foregone conclusion that no one should ever put the onus on another to be responsible for what he/she is lacking in, for it is up to each individual to carve out their own perfection and wholesomeness. What's important folks, simply put, a soulmate is a person (or two) who will draw out the best in you to help you achieve that perfect balance in your life. YOU need to complete yourself.