Kindred Spirit

“You will soon meet a life-long kindred spirit.”

So said my fortune cookie last Friday night.

And my heart leapt! Oh! In this season of searching for new connections …. I am so excited to meet my life-long kindred spirit!

But wait.

I am an introvert. Shy and anxious. Too often my nose in a book on my phone.

How will I meet her?

I will look up!
I will be brave!

But wait. My authentic thoughts sound silly to me when I say them out loud. But if I keep them inside …. how will my kindred spirit recognize me??

I will speak out.
I will risk people rolling their eyes.
It is ok if everyone else thinks I’m silly.
My kindred spirit will know me.
My kindred spirit will understand.

And then. The drum circle. Oh so nervous. Can I just show up? Not knowing anyone? Yes! I can. I have to show up for my life.  Now is (finally) the time to blossom.

At the end I stopped her. One of the leaders. Can you teach me a little bit please?

Yes. Respect the drum. Respect the animal and tree that sacrificed for your drum. (Line it up straight. Take off your jewelry.) Yes! I needed to know that.

I told her I needed to learn. That I teach about patterns that repeat in nature. Branches and spirals and meanders.

That I think of rhythm as the same. That our heartbeats match the rhythm of the drumbeats that humans have made through our time and all over the planet. Rhythms that the earth itself makes.

I FEEL it, I said (reaching out and grabbing her arm.) But I don’t KNOW it. And she grabbed my arm right back and said “yes you do know it!”

Ohhh! What a gift! Yes. I do!

I told her it was hard to be brave enough to say things like that. She said it was for her too. She said she is at an age in her life where she is trying to be brave. I said me too! I said I am trying to not be scared to share the thoughts in my head and my soul just because people will think I am silly.

And then she spoke magic words.

“I think you are my kindred spirit.”

No really! Those words!

Kindred spirit. Oh, Yes.

So I told her about the fortune cookie. And it gave us chills.

“I think I am here tonight so I can meet you.” (I didn’t say the words back. I am braver but not always completely brave.)

Later we made plans. Another drum event. Then coffee. When plans worked out easily she said “glorious!”

Oh my goodness. The universe is generous and generous and generous.

I have found a kindred spirit.

 

(And I am keeping my eyes and mind wide open… maybe there are more of us just waiting to be found….)