Finding My Sole-Mate

“Our soulmate is someone who shares our deepest longings, our sense of direction. When we're two balloons, and together our direction is up, chances are we've found the right person.”
(Richard Bach, author of 'Jonathan Livingston Seagull', b.1936)

"One that gives you the courage to be better than you are, not less than you are..." from the film "Nights on Rodanthe"

Whether we agree with Jerry McGuire's "You complete me" or support the idea of a couple being composed of three (you, me, and us), we spend much of our adult lives searching for our other half, confidante, person for whom we have an affinity. I personally spent more than a few Google-searches looking for even a synonym for this concept and this is the best I could find. If a clear definition is elusive, what can be said about an actual soulmate?

Classical literature, philosophies, and spirituality abound with ideas about this concept. In Greek mythology, humans originally had four arms, four legs, and two faces until Zeus, to retain his power, split each individual in two, sending us out in search of our "other half." Eve was fashioned from Adam's rib. In the realm of Karma and reincarnation, we seek those whom we have known in previous lives.

As an eternal romantic, I believe each one of us is entitled to our Romeo and Juliet or at the very least Ilsa and Rick. (Although I do question why destiny steps in to keep these folks apart; either destiny, hemlock, or Nazi occupation.) With each candle on our birthday cakes comes a deeper understanding or wisdom. Or so they tell us! I believe we are best prepared to meet a soulmate when we are whole ourselves. We should complement each other and inspire the best from each other.

In accessories, this would be represented by The Love Bracelet by Cartier. Created by the late Aldo Cipullo in 1969, this two piece bolted bracelet was a modern interpretation of the chastity belt. In other words, your soulmate would be the one who holds the key or in this case, tiny screwdriver with which you cannot remove said bracelet. Legend has it that Cartier policy prohibits anyone from buying the bracelet for him or herself. I think there is a name for someone who would attempt this purchase: a narcissist! In some circles, the bracelet's nickname is "bondage or slave" bracelet, but that's a whole other story! When The Love Bracelet was first introduced, Cartier gifted the bangle/screwdriver to popular couples of the day, including Liz and Dick, Cary and Dyan, Ali and Steve, Mai Britt and Sammy Davis, Jr., Sophia and Carlo Ponti, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. Now, all of these couples have been separated by either divorce, break-ups or death which begs the question. Who gets custody of the mini-tool?

Despite the seemingly bad endings to these celebrity romances, I believe we should hold hope for eternal love, or at least the prospect of a Love Bracelet to call our own!