Some believe blood is thicker than water. But I now know, spirit is thicker than blood. Early in my spiritual journey, I began to realize something I had been missing for most of my life. The people who truly mattered to me were not necessarily the people I saw every day, or even met in person. They were not necessarily even the people I relied on for my needs. They were the people who truly got me, accepted me and really wanted me in their lives. And I felt the same way about them.
Know yourself
I have always been a bit of a loner, and migrated in and out of groups and cliques my entire life. I was never in long or deep enough to really be a certified member of any group. But I knew everyone, and got along with most people well enough. This was liberating, as I didn't feel pressure to abide by the unwritten rules of that clique. But it also felt isolating at times because I didn't feel completely accepted and integrated anywhere. So I was kind of alone, no matter where I was.
Take the time to know who you are and you will better understand your relationships and connections to others.
Keep the best ones
As I traced my journey, through this life, back to my early childhood, I found that there were a few key characters from my youth that held a special place in my heart. Once I understood the bond those relationships had, that many of my new ones didn't, I was able to recognize this bond as it recurred in my adult life. I still hold a special few of these relationships as closer and deeper than others.
Hang on to the relationships that build you, challenge you and validate you.
Friends can be found anywhere
These deep spiritual bonds may never manifest into a face-to-face relationship. Or I may never be in contact with these pivotal people again in this life. But the fact remains these are members of my spiritual family. My soul mates, as I call them. They have supported me, taught me and helped me evolve in way they probably don't even recognize or understand.
I have a good friend who is a wife and mother about 10 years my senior. I met her on my spiritual path in a group for seekers of wisdom and truth. She inadvertently reawakened the writing bug in me. I told her about the story of how I came to recognize things beyond the physical. She suggested I write a screenplay about it. Through the years we've grown a lot as individuals, friends, and in our own families. She teaches me about life as I provide her perspective on her own. I'm very grateful to have someone in my life who is extremely supportive of me and sees me as more than capable of changing lives, and changing the world. We've worked through our scuffles and become better people for it.
Look for your best relationships anywhere.
Look for qualities you admire
Most of my spiritual family possess wisdom beyond their years and treat life with respect and admiration. A quality I would love to adopt more of myself. I look up to these unique and progressive individuals for their ability to grow into themselves and find their distinctive purpose on the planet. I suspect they all regard me highly as well. They truly enjoy my company, and share a special sense of humor and way of communicating with me.
Find friends who possess the qualities you admire. They will help you develop those same qualities in yourself.
Outsiders may not ever understand our connection, and sometimes, we don't either. Our relationship flows, even if we hit a rough patch. And our bond endures long periods without contact. I try to reconnect with my childhood and high school soul mates whenever I visit my hometown. And it's always a great time, and an adventure.
Sharing DNA doesn't necessarily make you a family. Your family is made up of the people who love you unconditionally. The people who treat you well. The people who want you in their lives because you add to it, and because they add to yours. Family isn't always blood. It's the people who accept you for who you are. The ones who would do anything to see you successful and happy. And the ones who will be there for you no matter what.
