Platonic Soulmates🐞

If you’ve been fortunate enough to find a platonic soulmate, you’ll understand when I say that having a best friend like Makenzie is one of life’s most profound gifts. Whether or not you believe in the concept of soulmates, there’s something extraordinarily rare and beautiful about friendships like this that deserve far more recognition than the simple title of “best friend.” This blog post is dedicated to those who see us for exactly who we are, love us unconditionally, and make our lives infinitely brighter just by being in them. If someone has already come to mind, send this to them as a quiet thank-you for being your person.

The term “platonic soulmate” may sound exaggerated, but truly that’s the only way I can think to describe our friendship. In a world where romantic relationships often take center stage as the pinnacle of connection, I think there’s something uniquely magical about a friendship that feels eternal. Makenzie and I didn’t just become friends—we met and instantly fit perfectly into each other’s lives.

I remember the day we moved into our freshman dorm like it was yesterday. After the chaos of unpacking and saying goodbye to our parents, we found ourselves alone, both wide-eyed and overwhelmed by the reality of college. That’s when we noticed a ladybug in our room—a small but strangely comforting sign. A few months later, on the last night spent in our dorm room, Swig 1008, everything packed and mattresses bare, we found another ladybug. That full-circle moment has stayed with me ever since, and ladybugs have become our shared symbol of serendipity and connection. Recently, while in Barcelona, Makenzie and I got matching ladybug tattoos (sorry Mom and Dad), and now, every time I see mine, I’m reminded that no matter how unpredictable life gets, I’ll always have someone like Makenzie by my side.

Makenzie is the kind of person who makes you feel seen, even on your worst days. She has this uncanny ability to read between the lines of my sarcastic jokes and overthinking spirals, knowing exactly when to call me out and when to just let me vent. She’s the voice of reason when I’m overwhelmed or feeling down on myself, the first person I text when pretty much anything happens (like literally anything), and my fiercest supporter when life gets good. We always joke that we share a brain, often referring to it as “our brain” but the truth is, our connection feels almost telepathic. She finishes my sentences without hesitation and somehow manages to answer questions I haven’t even spoken out loud yet. It’s a level of understanding that feels rare, even in the closest of friendships.

And then there’s her humor—Makenzie’s gift for finding levity in any situation is unmatched. I can’t count the number of times I’ve thought, I wish Kenzie were here, because she has this way of turning even the most mundane (or miserable) moments into ones worth remembering. Case in point: the time we got a flat tire on a 12-hour road trip back from school. Objectively, that was a nightmare. But sitting in the car, laughing and talking, for three hours, waiting for a tow truck, we managed to turn that ordeal into something that still makes me laugh to this day and somehow that memory feels golden.

Yet, what truly makes Makenzie my soulmate is her unwavering loyalty. She’s the kind of friend who shows up—whether it’s for the big moments, like celebrating milestones, or the small ones, like leaving me a sweet post-it-note message when I least expect it. Her consistency is a quiet reminder that no matter what life throws at me, I have someone in my corner who will always have my back. Honestly, my favorite moments with her aren’t even the big ones—they’re the everyday ones. The chaos of getting ready together, leaving the room in shambles while we each pretend to be the other’s stylist. Waking up to a coffee on my nightstand, a small yet meaningful gesture. Whispering, “you’re my best friend,” across the room at night and hearing her whisper it back.

So, to Makenzie: thank you. Thank you for being my best friend, sister, and soulmate. Thank you for always knowing exactly when to crack a joke and when to sit in silence with me. Thank you for always being there and always being your perfectly silly self. I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I know I’m better for having you in my life. You’re stuck with me forever. And if that’s not soulmates, I don’t know what is.

Love,
Tara