This is a beautiful term that I learned from some dear friends and teachers from Ireland. It means soul friend. It is someone you may or may not see would be a friend from the surface – yet someone who touches your heart and life – someone who can genuinely hear you whether you are speaking or not.
I have spent years priding myself on being a soul friend to many. Each place I have lived I have added a few treasured friends. I have loved the heart connection, friendship and joy that each relationship has brought.
The past few years have felt to me as though they were a deep cleanse of all I have valued and held dear. Much simplicity and beauty has shown up as a result of this process.
One area I keep visiting (or that keeps visiting me) are my friendships. I still very much value each and every person that has been brought into my life. A few years ago I realized in my deepest core that I could not maintain the number and depth of relationships and still be a good mom and wife and create a strong dynamic business.
Facebook has helped me with this. I have the good parts of maintaining friendships without the overstuffed calendar. In many ways, I have more time for family yet have been able to keep up with those I love.
Beyond this, I felt some clarity arise when I did Debbie Ford’s 21 Day Consciousness Cleanse this past January. The theme throughout her book is that our number one priority is to tend our own inner flame.
It has given me a benchmark when looking at decisions. It has become easier to say ‘yes’ and easier to say ‘no’.
Sometimes it still feels unclear to me though. Can you be a true Anum Cara or soul friend … and make choices that honor you, yet let the other person down or strain trust?
