This evening, before yoga class, I struck up a conversation with a fellow yogi on the mat next to me. She looked familiar, and we realized that we knew each other from GW, where we'd taken the same self-defense as an elective class the first semester of our freshman year. We'd never talked very much at GW, but tonight we started talking about various things that had happened in our lives since freshman year. It started out as chit chat, but we were soon engaged in fairly animated conversation, laughing and trading anecdotes even as the opening meditation began. Even in the short time we talked, it became apparent that we had a lot in common and had a similar outlook on life. As silly as it sounds, I felt like I could've talked to her forever, and I found myself thinking whoa...we could potentially become really good friends. You know that feeling you get when you just click with someone? Definitely there. Except...it turns out she's moving to Maine at the end of the summer to attend law school.
It seems slightly ridiculous to feel sad over this. I just met the girl, after all. But for 15 minutes there, I was genuinely excited about the possibility of forming a friendship with her and it felt like a loss to find out that most likely won't happen. I've experienced the same feeling at various times throughout my life. That feeling that I would really enjoy getting to know someone better - that they may even be a kindred spirit. But, for whatever reason (timing, geography, etc.), it just doesn't seem like it'll work out.
Has this ever happened to you?
Photo by Flickr user ryanmcginnisphoto.
