Soul Connections
I spent a week with one of my best friends. After talking about it for 19 years of internet friendship, Shane (Vivi) came to visit me from all the way in BC, Canada. I was mildly terrified when he asked if he could visit. ("Well, Val, I made a life decision, and it involves you." 🤣) Because it had been a long time since I had a non-family friend stay here. (Though he really is family now. 🥲) My anxiety flared up, as it's known to do. But once he arrived, everything felt so natural.
Most of my best friendships were formed around the internet or enhanced by it. And I've always felt as close to the friends I knew exclusively online as ones I'd met in person. But this was the first time those worlds aligned. There is something truly amazing about being in the same space as a person you feel deeply connected to. (Something I've often forgotten in the face of my anxiety.) I felt so seen and loved. Sharing my life and family with him gave me some of the best moments of my life.
We went grocery shopping. (A lot more fun than it sounds; I promise!) Ate a lot of vegan foods. I gave him a crash course on the Wii era of gaming. He coached me through the first few hours of one of his favorite games (Ocarina of Time) and put up with my complaining. (I'm not good at Zelda games! 😆) We made him a Mii and a Sim. (HUMMUS! 🐱) We picked up trash in the woods. And he gave me a makeover with the vegan makeup we bought with my bestie cousin, which was my stipulation for being photographed.
People often seem to think in "better than" comparisons. I've been pressured to be "more social". If you try to explain you've formed rich connections online, someone might argue that nothing beats interacting in person. And yes, it is so valuable and meaningful. But I felt that deep meaning spending time with Vivi because this was a connection formed over close to 20 years of typing and voice chatting, laughs and deep conversations. That's how I felt safe enough to let him into my tiny but precious life in my "little nothing valley".
True soul connections are the same whether you're in the room together or across the world. But I hope we get to spend time in the same space again someday. 💖
Most of my best friendships were formed around the internet or enhanced by it. And I've always felt as close to the friends I knew exclusively online as ones I'd met in person. But this was the first time those worlds aligned. There is something truly amazing about being in the same space as a person you feel deeply connected to. (Something I've often forgotten in the face of my anxiety.) I felt so seen and loved. Sharing my life and family with him gave me some of the best moments of my life.
We went grocery shopping. (A lot more fun than it sounds; I promise!) Ate a lot of vegan foods. I gave him a crash course on the Wii era of gaming. He coached me through the first few hours of one of his favorite games (Ocarina of Time) and put up with my complaining. (I'm not good at Zelda games! 😆) We made him a Mii and a Sim. (HUMMUS! 🐱) We picked up trash in the woods. And he gave me a makeover with the vegan makeup we bought with my bestie cousin, which was my stipulation for being photographed.
People often seem to think in "better than" comparisons. I've been pressured to be "more social". If you try to explain you've formed rich connections online, someone might argue that nothing beats interacting in person. And yes, it is so valuable and meaningful. But I felt that deep meaning spending time with Vivi because this was a connection formed over close to 20 years of typing and voice chatting, laughs and deep conversations. That's how I felt safe enough to let him into my tiny but precious life in my "little nothing valley".
True soul connections are the same whether you're in the room together or across the world. But I hope we get to spend time in the same space again someday. 💖