“How far away the stars seem,
And how far is our first kiss,
And ah, how old my heart.”
– William Butler Yeats
When you read about an old soul, you probably have visions of young men, going to bed at 9:00 P.M., complete with striped pajamas and a night cap. Well, while we admit that there are people like that, they’re not the subject of our discussion today! The fact is that you probably don’t even know that you’re dating an old soul, especially if you’re not sure what the old soul meaning is! But we’re here to help and give you all the information you need.
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Who is an old soul?
So if younger versions of Ebenezer Scrooge don’t fit the description of an old soul definition, what exactly does? Basically, an old soul refers to a person who is wise beyond his years, who seems to have gleaned a good deal of knowledge and experience from his young life. They are generally devoid of youthful impulsiveness and have a more matured outlook on things. According to some meta-physicists who take a more literal interpretation, old souls are those who’ve had many more past lives or reincarnations than your average Joe. Well, metaphysics or not, we have to agree that old souls do have an air of spirituality about them, like they see a little more than others. They also tend to be a little more old-fashioned than the rest of us.
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Dating an old soul
So how do you know if you’re in a relationship with an old soul? Well, they certainly aren’t going to be walking around wearing bell bottomed pants! Of course, they’re as young as you and I, and they look great; but if you look closely, you’ll find that air of seniority about them. To stop confusing you further and making things easier to understand, here are 15 things to know about dating an old soul – with a little help from Lewis Caroll and Alice in Wonderland!
1. “Begin at the beginning,” the King said
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Old souls didn’t suddenly become this way overnight; they were born like this. Right from childhood, they’ve probably been ‘old for their years,’ and they’ve been chosen as leaders and monitors more than once. Be prepared for several such stories from your old soul’s family and childhood friends!
2. “Birds of a feather flock together”
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One surefire way to identify an old soul is by the companions he keeps. Most old souls gravitate towards older people, especially ones who’ve had rich experiences and have plenty of old-world stories to tell. As you get to know your partner better, you’ll find more and more of such friends coming by!
3. “And what is the use of a book, without pictures or conversation?”
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Old souls prefer the traditional way of doing things, and aren’t as obsessed with technology as others are. They’d much rather get snail mail than email, and most certainly prefer physical books over electronic ones. Now you know that Kindle reader won’t make a good gift!
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4. “How puzzling all these changes are!”
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You know how some people always seem to have a classy, elegant air about them? It’s present in everything they wear, have or do. And if you think about it, most companies that make ‘classy’ things are well established ones that have been around for a while. Old souls often stick to these old, reliable brands, and don’t bother with new ones that keep popping up.
5. “Would you like some wine?”
People who are old souls are instantly attracted to anything that has a ‘vintage’ feel to it, especially old things that have been repurposed. It doesn’t matter that the exterior has changed; as far as they’re concerned, the soul of the object is intact. This should help you decide what to wear to a date with an old soul!
6. “I’m afraid I can’t explain myself, sir.”
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When you’re planning a date with your special old soul, the choice of entertainment should be carefully thought out. These are not people who’ll appreciate the latest zombie apocalypse or an outer space thriller. They neither understand nor appreciate such genres, and would much rather prefer some good old romance or comedy.
7. “Imagination is the only weapon in the war against reality.”
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When you begin dating an old soul, it won’t take you long to realize that they like being on their own a good deal. It’s not because they dislike your company, they just like to introspect a lot, and think about the mysteries and wonders of the universe. In a good way, of course!
8. “Everything’s got a moral, if only you can find it.”
One characteristic of being an old soul is that they have very defining morals and qualities. They place a lot of importance on ‘old-fashioned’ virtues like honor and sacrifice, and don’t settle for anything less – even in a potential partner.
9. “But I don’t want to go among mad people.”
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You won’t find an old soul who suddenly decides to up and go to a club; impulsiveness is not their thing. They see above youthful brashness, even if others in their generation are being a certain way or doing a certain thing to appear ‘in.’ They consider themselves a little too ‘evolved’ for such behavior. So don’t be surprised if he doesn’t want to come clubbing with you at 11:00 P.M. on a Saturday night!
10. “How long is forever?”
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Old souls aren’t caught up in the vagaries of the present. They don’t allow themselves to get trapped in the rat race and seek a deeper meaning for life. They look into the past as well as the future, and also entertain conversations on topics of this nature.
11. “Yes, that’s it! It’s always tea time.”
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Even though old souls are not caught up in the present, it doesn’t mean that they don’t know how to enjoy the present moment. They are not into an extravagant display of wealth or status, and enjoy the simpler pleasures of life, like a good book with a cup of tea, or a stroll through the park. Such a person isn’t hard to please, and it’s a great feeling to remember that happiness lies in the little things.
12. “If everybody minded their own business, the world would go around a great deal faster than it does.”
You’ll rarely find yourself arguing with an old soul about some latest controversy. These people tend to look at the bigger picture and have a sense of the greater good, rather than petty quarrels of today that’ll fade tomorrow. The trials of everyday life don’t bog them down as much, which is good news for a person in a relationship with them!
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13. “If you don’t know where you are going, any road can take you there.”
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Old souls aren’t just lovely people to date, they make great friends too! They’re always ready with a listening ear and also tend to dispense advice more than the average person. After all, their souls are older and more experienced than yours! While some might find this annoying, there is usually a lot of wisdom hidden in the advice they give and is worth heeding!
14. “Look after the senses and the sounds will look after themselves”
Old souls are called that for a reason; they feel and act like they’ve been around longer than you! This belief gives them a certain insight into the human nature and they are often sensitive to a person’s moods before they even say anything. Heightened senses help old souls be more empathetic to others, and lucky are the ones who are close to them!
15. “Who in the world am I? Ah, that’s the great puzzle.”
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Even if you don’t take the metaphysical definition of old souls too seriously, you can’t deny that they are definitely spiritual beings. Whether through religion or plain spirituality, they always seek a connection beyond this world and often think about it when they’re by themselves. You can also occasionally catch glimpses of their thoughts when it comes out in conversation. Don’t be alarmed, it’s just the way they are!
If you’re still a tad confused about who an old soul is, some examples should help. Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series is a great example of an old soul; note how she always tends to ‘reign in’ the more impulsive Harry and Ron? Another excellent example is Katniss Everdeen from ‘The Hunger Games’ – a no-nonsense, calm person, who always keeps the big picture in mind. There you go with old souls from literature!
Having an old soul as a special person in your life is something to treasure. In this crazy world that just seems to be waiting for the next controversy to come around, an old soul’s charm and sense of calm helps to form a sort of anchor in one’s life and give it a fresh new meaning. So what’s not to like in that!!
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