I have a problem with the idea of soulmates. It feels like a cliched idea: two people completely and absolutely meant for one another overcoming any and all obstacles to get to their Happily Ever After.

But my problem with the word soulmate isn’t with its definition.

A soulmate is defined as a person ideally suited to another as a close friend or romantic partner. Nowhere does this definition restrict a soulmate to one person. This definition alludes both to the idea of there being more than one kind of soulmate relationship and to the idea of one person having many soulmates. I think this is a perfect way to describe something so complex so that it leaves the possibility of flexible interpretation.

Since I spent most of my childhood growing up in a single-parent household, I have a hard time grasping onto the idea that everyone needs a soulmate, or better yet, that everyone has one. I thought that because my mom was single, she was alone. This is so far from true--she has some of the best friends and the most supportive family I have ever seen by her side.

I think I’ve always had a problem with the idea of soulmates because I was always so rigid in the way that I defined it. I can’t exactly pinpoint where I learned this idea of every person only having one destined soulmate, but it wasn’t until recently that I realized how narrow and restrictive this outlook is. In reality, you never know who is going to come into your life or how much they’re going to impact it. Limiting this idea of a soulmate only to romantic relationships blinds you to all of the other important relationships in your life.

So rather than hating the word soulmate, I’ve chosen to change my interpretation, and it makes me incredibly grateful for all of my soulmates and so excited for whatever, and whoever, has yet to come.