Soul mates and other random thoughts

What is a soul mate?  When I married my husband, I could have told you many things - how he made me feel, the things he made me want, but, not about how he made my soul feel.
Years later, when we were at a dangerous crossroads in our marriage, I felt how empty my heart and soul felt without him.  We found each other, and the way to go on those dark and dangerous roads.  Each day since then, we have learned to speak from our inner selves, not just what the other might want to hear.  Sure, sometimes my inner self is snarky (and bitchy), but, if only truth is spoken, not telling him what HE is doing wrong, but, how I feel (really feel, not the feelings of the scared little girl who is afraid of being unloved) when he upsets me (or puzzles me), he actually hears me.  That honesty has carried us through financial trials, medical crises and into a warmer spot in our lives.  I'm not perfect (I'm messy and creative, and a real pain sometimes, not to mention a huge clutterer), but, he loves me how I am, and because of that warm, safe feeling, of being loved no matter what, my soul feels connected to him in a way that I've only felt for my children, before we found our way.  I don't know why we are two puzzle pieces that fit together and balance each other, but, we are, and I am grateful for it.  Because that inner sense of feeling loved (passionately, enduringly and forever) it one that I've waited for my whole life.  That is what makes him my soul mate.

Random thought:  We never realize how sincere compliments (or at least compliments that sound sincere) can make someone feel, until it happens to us.  Friday, a male co-worker asked very politely if he could pay me a compliment, without offending me.  Of course this surprised me, because I like the "good job" compliments I get in my professional career.  He went on to explain that this was a personal compliment, and he didn't want me to think he was out of line or harassing me.  I responded (albeit in a very surprised voice) "sure, go ahead".  He then said very sincerely, "I wanted to tell you how lovely you look without glasses."  I thanked him (in a rather strangled tone), but, was smiling the rest of the day.  I was never the "lovely" girl.  With my straight nose, straighter hair, and the 13 schools I attended by high school, lecherous father (who flirted with my friends as they developed), my mother who had rules that never made sense (and changed in a heartbeat), the messiest house in town (my mother once washed a load of clothes with a mouse in them, after they sat on the basement floor for days - the mouse drowned and my mother had a huge debate with herself - and anyone who would listen -  over whether those clothes REALLY needed to be rewashed - and although I'm sure anything she had in there for herself was rewashed, I never really knew what she did),  I was never the cute, pretty or popular girl.  I didn't go to prom.  But, I was smart (yeah, that helped).  So, "lovely"?  It put a smile in my heart.  Of course, my husband, when I told him, said "of course", my daughters (and a trusted female co-worker) all said "I told you that you look different without glasses". Hmmm - who would have thought that in my fifties, I would suddenly get such a nice compliment.  I know, I always look for a kind word to share with co-workers and elderly patients.  I guess I just didn't know how light my step would feel, on the receiving end of one.