From the limited Lucy Montgomery that I’ve read, I’ve treasured the most her concept of kindred spirits. It’s the idea of someone who you can connect with on a level that transcends the physical. You somehow just “get each other”! Often you don’t require a lot of words to communicate with one another, and those words that you do share have strong resonance because your hearts are in tune. In some indiscernible way, your spirits are related and share a common understanding.
Hopefully you’ve experienced the joy of discovering a kindred spirit. I know that I’ve been blessed to have known a few. But after recently moving to a new city and leaving behind some of my spirit’s closest kin, I’ve found myself searching again. I miss the familiarity of old friends, and notice a lacking in my new life of intimate, meaningful friendships. This can be disappointing.
But I’m learning that relationships take time, and that we don’t always give our spirits the chance to discover each other. We put up guards of busyness, independence, and pride. It’s only in the brief moments of losing our defences that our spirits are given the opportunity to discover one another; but what a transforming and wonderful moment that is! The spirit rejoices at finally finding a relative.
I believe that you will find kindred spirits wherever you go. But you must remember to look for them, and not to hide behind your mind’s fortifications. Most of all, you have to realize that connecting with people on this level takes time, and that having an isolated spirit for a period will only intensify the joy of eventually re-discovering kindred spirits.
That’s funny, I was having some of the exact same thoughts today! I was wondering if my lifelong kindred spirit friends were formed in undergrad rather then grad school. I guess it just takes time.
Comment by Miriam Booy — October 17, 2008 @ 12:02 am
It’s called transition…(I can hear you groaning
) You have left where you are “known” and have entered a new place where that needs to be built up again. Yes, it takes time but it will happen. Like wearing new shoes, kind of exciting to wear, but there’s a bit of rub and pinch at first, not like the old favourites that fit so well…
Comment by Mom — October 17, 2008 @ 2:55 pm
Very apt, Mrs. Booy. Perfect illustration for this one
Comment by Tara — October 17, 2008 @ 9:29 pm
Just wait till you marry a kindred spirit…
Comment by Tim — October 18, 2008 @ 1:14 pm
So… I sort of thought you meant that you went to Stages (the night club in Kingston) and found a kindred spirit there whilst gyrating amid the mighty crowds. Your explanation makes much more sense.
Comment by Tammy (from Swing!) — October 30, 2008 @ 9:24 pm