How many soulmates do we get?

Soulmate.  What the heck does that word really mean?  Does it mean your soul has one mate and that’s it?  Can you have more?  Can you have more than one at one time?  If you lose your soulmate, is there another, or has your soulmate allotment been used up? 

What happens if this soulmate does something like cheat on you, are they still your soulmate?  How did we even come up with the concept of a soulmate?  The thought of a soulmate is another person who you feel a natural connection, affinity and attraction too.  Usually, this is in the context of the opposite sex unless you’re gay, then it would obviously be the same sex, duh.   Sometimes I hear friends talk about meeting their soulmate and how important it is and it’s what they are looking for.  I used to have a girlfriend who on the first date would talk about the “amazing connection they had and he just got her”.  That usually resulted in never seeing each other again.  I think she was so hooked on finding her “soulmate” that she scared the shit outta the guy by talking about it. 

So, do we only get one?  What happens if you find your soulmate at the age of 20 and into your 30′s realize you aren’t the same person as you were a long time ago and he’s not really your soulmate after all!  When I got married at 23, I thought I knew it all and the sun rose and set on my husband.  After about 9 years, I realized I wanted to smother him at times, we were not compatible anymore and I couldn’t wait to wake up to him not being in my bed!  Do I get another chance? 

My own personal thoughts on soulmates is they can exists in any form.  I feel a strong connection to many of my girlfriends who I feel are like my sisters.  I am madly in love with my dog and think if I could actually find a guy I loved as much, I might actually get married again.  (my dog is pretty special and is just a big bunch of goodness wrapped in fur!)  With men though, I’m probably a little more cynical. 

I always say I’m looking for 80% I love about them and the remaining 20% I can live with.  Maybe those are the wrong proportions, but I’m old enough to realize I’m not getting 100% compatibility, no matter what Match says.  So, I think I can deal with 80%.  I don’ t know about you, but I’m a bit sick of the word soulmate.  It kind of implies that anything else is a failure.  Why can’t I just have a wonderful time with a guy that makes me smile?  He may not be my soul mate, but if we make each other happy, isn’t that what is most important?