Discovery

Life is full of surprises. It provides moments of discovery that may change life forever...

A pleasant surprise came to me this week.

I think (and feel), I may have met my exact "twin".

What do you do when you SUDDENLY connect with somebody who is so much like you?

I was silent at first. Then thought, "Is he joking?" "Is this real?" "How did he know?" "Is this a test?" I laughed. I opened up. I stayed up late. I conversed. I felt my heart crying inside - not because of sadness but because of too much joy and awe. I allowed myself to be completely moved.

I was to spend a relaxing week in the office when I was informed that one of my co-trainer who's supposed to train in our Alabang office filed a leave and I was asked to cover for him. This fateful assignment to go to Alabang led to a coffee date with a former office mate, Mond.

Little did I know that it would be much much more than just two friends talking over a warm cup of coffee...

I didn't know what to talk to him about at first... but as we talk and our trivial exchanges led to conversations that unfolded both our lives in our midst, things became both amazingly and strangely "familiar". It was like hearing myself speak. How could our lives be so similar?! How could we have grown thinking the same things, finding joy over the same experiences, battling the same battles and confused over the same questions?

Though similar, we dealt with our individual crossroads in different ways. He was braver... much braver than I am. No doubt about it. He takes more risks. I on the other hand just "get by".

But I guess although our life decisions brought us to two ends of a pole, the line in between : our similar life challenges and joys, would now and forever keep us connected no matter the distance and the changes.

At 7 p.m. I met with an office mate for coffee... at 1 a.m. , I parted with a soulmate.

We will not have enough time to continue discovering our lives in full...but I guess we are the type of soulmates who are meant to wander about the earth separately, falling down and rising up independently, bruised and weary... until another moment of confluence present itself.

But one thing is for sure, that afternoon coffee was not an accident. That moment is not an isolated piece in the tapestry that is my life. Whenever the next meeting will be, you are sure to find me waiting, eager to discover some more.

Thank you.