Redefining Soulmates

‘Oko Alalubarika, ibujoko Ayo’

Oh yes, the familiar prayer I hear every festive period. I kept saying amen absentmindedly till I did not realize my mum was done with her prayers and has moved on to another topic. She noticed this, got really angry (not really sha😂) and I ended up getting an hour-long conversation about marriage and men.

It’s Eid al-Fitr today. I woke up with a terrible body ache, but I was determined to go to Eid. I came back home in a worse state than I left, and I was about to crash into my bed when my phone rang. It was my mum, and I had to pick it (or she’ll lose her mind😑). I went into the kitchen to look for snacks, anything to munch on, but all I had was carrots. Now, I don’t even like carrots that much; I just bought them because they go really well with white rice✋.

Started munching on the carrots while my mum was praying, and of course, I wasn’t paying attention. I’ve heard those prayers a million times, and frankly, I wasn’t in the mood today. After she noticed I wasn’t paying attention and started lecturing me on the importance of marriage, I reminded her that I almost got married last year. ‘Almost is different from actually getting married’ she said. Oh wow, pardon me, miss girl🙄.

‘Don’t worry, it’ll be easier when you find your soulmate’ I stopped munching. I already found my soulmate. Yes, I already found my soulmate, and no, we are not getting married. You know that feeling when you find someone who just gets you, you just click. They love to try things you love, there’s this silliness that floats in the air when you’re around them, and you just do silly things.

I already found them. Them? Yes, them. Do you really think that in this big world, there’s just one soulmate for you? I’ve found my soulmate in men, women, and booze. Or maybe I don’t understand the concept of a soulmate. Maybe I just don’t have a soul for someone to mate with. But what I do have is plenty of strangers to get attached to, fall in love with, and let them go as I please.

Your soulmate doesn’t have to be in the traditional sense of the word. It doesn’t have to be the opposite gender, and it doesn’t even have to be a living thing. Maybe you don't need to find just one soulmate. Maybe you can find multiple soulmates, each bringing their own unique energy and love into your life. And maybe, just maybe, that's the greatest love of all ❤️.