People cross our paths on the Road of Life for a Reason, a Season, or a Lifetime – that much is quite clear.

The person who enters our lives for a Reason does so inevitably to teach us a valuable lesson, or to put certain matters into proper perspective. The presence of such individuals is normally fleeting – they disappear from our lives once their job is done. Memories that such people recall may not always be pleasant; in fact, such memories may be quite disturbing, and may even be quite traumatic. Yet, if someday, we were to just sit back and evaluate these various instances, we would soon realize that in the long run, such people really did us a favour, rather than the contrary. Such people teach us the Do’s and Don’ts of Life. It is not as if they planned to do it – it just happens in the normal course of events in our daily lives. At least, this is invariably the case. Some actions may be premeditated, but whatever way certain events happen, we must learn to accept that it was for a particular reason, even though these reasons may not be immediately (or ever) obvious to us. The most important lesson that we learn from such people is that we are stronger, more persistent, and more resilient than we ever imagined, or thought ourselves to be. Be thankful and grateful for the presence of such people who enter your life – you may find it strange that I say so, but it is true, believe me. I state this critical point from my own personal experiences in life.

The People who enter our lives for a Season are for example, people who we thought are our friends but are equivocal to a toxic friendship that was never meant to be, in the first place. It could also be an abusive, egoistic boyfriend/girlfriend, or fiancé (e) with whom the opposite party finds himself/herself to be totally incompatible with. Don’t force such futile relationships to endure The Test of Time – they were never meant to be. It is like mending a broken vase – the glue from the fragmented pieces stuck together will always show up prominently as ugly patches – akin to painful scars. These patches suggest even more painful memories – memories of loss, sadness, despair, betrayal, suffering and heartbreak. Why would anyone want such a toxic relationship to last or even continue? Either break up with such manipulative, ulterior-motivated people or allow such negative personal relationships to die a natural death, with absolutely no wish whatsoever to rekindle it, in the future.

Such people – as the above-mentioned ones – are like those who enter our lives for a Reason. They stay in our lives for a short period of time, before exiting from it completely.  These people are like Fleeting Ships in The Night – seen briefly on the horizon before vanishing totally from sight. Such people are often reminiscent of temporary personal relationships. Just as seasons come and go, in the same way, such people are passing and transient – just a fleeting presence, of some importance in our lives, nonetheless. These people enter our lives for a reason – as much as a season. They make a powerful imprint on our lives. They leave once their mission is accomplished – learn to think of it as such. We always learn something useful and memorable from such people – a truth worth remembering. Be grateful for such people. It’s true, believe me.

The people who enter our lives for a Lifetime are our Soulmates. They are much more than mere close friends – they know us extremely well, from the inside out. They can see the unshed tears in our eyes, as much as the obvious joy in our smiles and laughter. They can read into the message imprinted on our souls. They can correctly interpret our innermost thoughts, feelings, moods, and emotions. They know how to empathize when needed, and they know equally when to maintain their distance when they feel it is necessary to do so. They know when it is right to probe into a troubled mind – they do it as much to comfort and unburden the opposite party, as to advise them from the viewpoint of a neutral person. Not all the advice that a soulmate advocates is pleasant or even easily acceptable, but one must realize that this advice is put forth with the best interest of the person in mind. Soulmates are not always a comforting presence – they shake us out of our apathy and indifference. Soulmates have the capacity to open a closed mind with a fresh viewpoint. They provide us with a new perspective on the situation at hand. They teach us about love, kindness, compassion and humility, like no one else can.

Soulmates are a rare and precious gift that only a few, blessed people are lucky enough to encounter. Such people are there to stay in our lives, through the good times, and especially through the bad times. They are a permanent and enduring fixture in our lives – not easy to fend off. We honestly do not need hundreds of friends – for all intents and purposes, such people are only brief, short-lived acquaintances. What we all DO NEED is only ONE true friend – a soulmate – who will be by our side for a lifetime: through thick and thin. A friend in need is deemed a friend indeed – do not forget this truth. Cherish such genuine and selfless friends and understand that their presence is as precious as it is vital. Soulmates are in our lives as much for a reason as for a lifetime. Be especially thankful for them. Very few people are blessed with such an unequivocally wonderful gift as a true friend!

It is important to understand that everything that happens to us in our lives occurs due to a Divine Reason, ordained by the Lord, our God. We tend to waste so much precious time trying to fathom the reason (s) why certain events occurred. Sometimes, there is no apparent good reason at all, and it is quite alright if we never know why. We must learn to accept this fact unconditionally to maintain our own sense of sanity and peace of mind.

Our lives are driven by cause and effect, by action and reaction. If we were to only stop for a moment to understand WHY people behave the way that they do, it would predict a totally different, correct, and opposite reaction from us. People do not behave in a particular way in the presence of a vacuum. There is always a reason – good or not – that predicts why certain things happen. Understand this reason by being more perspicacious and perceptive to the reactions of others – this subtle comprehension predicts our thoughts, our words, and our actions. In the long run, this deeper understanding makes us better people. Bad thoughts negatively affect our words and actions. Remember, words once spoken cannot be taken back. Actions once committed cannot be undone. Do good and good shall come back to you. Life is an Echo – we reap what we sow.

What is left to say? Just this – someday, we will only remain a distant memory for some people. Make very sure that this memory is a good one. That is all that really matters, in the end. Don’t you agree?