Soul Friends

I recently spent a night out with old friends. It was long over due. We're talking decades in the making. 

From the very beginning, it turned out to be the most impactful and fulfilling gathering that we, undoubtedly, needed so much. 

As if acting like giddy teenagers all over again wasn't enough, this evening was highlighted by a flood of memories, reflections, belly laughing, toasting special loved ones that have passed and a refreshing amount of honesty that can only be shared with people who know you so well. 

It was full of every emotion possible and it made me realize something very special:

There are certain friendships that change you forever.

Not because they're perfect but because they are imperfectly rooted inside of you— in a loyalty, trust, and unwavering support kind of way that you have not only earned but gifted to each other.

It grows out of years of sharing laughter and tears. 

It is held together with sacred memories and a profound sense of safety and peace that surrounds them.

It is real, raw, and uncommon enough that once you feel it, it becomes a part of you and them. 

It stays cradled in your hearts and gently surfaces to remind you of happier times when you need it most. 

It settles into your bones with an odd sense of familiarity, like it has been there before. 

It is a rare connection, so true and deep, that it remains untouched by years and distance. 

It has a life of its own and rejoices when your paths cross again because it recognizes each others souls.

There is an ancient Gaelic phrase for this kind of unique friendship called Anam Cara - used to describe your soul friends that walk beside you, understanding your spirit without the need for masks or pretenses. 

They are your mirrors that reflect back to you the truest form of who you really are, and, in turn, you are forever grateful for finding them in this lifetime and the next because you know how rare and beautiful this kind of friendship really is.

Cheers to my Anam Caras, and another sacred memory of a night of hugs and belly laughs with you!