My "Older Twin"

Sometimes we intentionally put ourselves into situations with the sole purpose of meeting new people. I mean, that's the entire point of social networks, isn't it? We sign up for these sites to meet people, to "network," to find others with common interests--all for the sake of getting to know another person you may have never had the opportunity of meeting.

Whenever we attend a social gathering, a convention, a seminar, or even a sporting event...we're putting ourselves in an environment with the opportunity of meeting new people. And when you thrust yourself into this type of environment, you're bound to find others with vast similarities between yourself.

In my case, it was a retreat.

This is the story of the girl I could see a part of myself in; this is the girl I could see as my "older twin."

You see, this girl and I ran in the same circles, had common acquaintances, common friends, but never really talked...never really met. And when we both found ourselves on the same spiritual retreat, it was really like meeting a perfect stranger. We talked about life, God, friends, family, relationships--and in the end, I felt as if I was looking into the mirror and discovering myself four years down the line.

But it wasn't exactly our experiences that were necessarily the same, but our outlook on life and our view of the world. This was the head-turner that made us both realize that our minds turn in the same direction and our hearts beat at the same rhythm. Discovering how much we truly had in common made me feel like our souls were linked from the very start.

But you see...this isn't really story, now is it? I guess not every encounter you have with someone has to have a story. Sometimes, the story comes after the spark that starts a new friendship. Maybe the best story I'll have with this girl, who was once a perfect stranger, will be somewhere down the line...but she just won't be a stranger anymore.

Alas, the joys of meeting a perfect stranger.

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