Romance lingers in the air. It’s around that time of year where all the single people gag at the Shakespear wannabes professing their love through poetry. It’s the time where suddenly all you can see is red (both literally and figuratively). Afterall, why must you be tormented by love while others have found their special someone? But what if you ALREADY have a special person–someone bound to you for life in a way unimaginable. Oftentimes, the idea of soulmates and being tied to a random person seems absurd; you mean to tell me that I’m meant to love someone I haven’t even met yet? Others find solace in the idea that they’re destined to fall in love with someone who complements them perfectly. Despite all odds, they are forever tied to someone–perhaps by an invisible string–that will give the love they’re surrounded with.
The red string theory originates from Eastern Chinese folklore. It’s a belief that everyone is tied by an invisible string–one displayed in a vibrant scarlet color–to their destined lover. There are different interpretations of the theory and where the string is tied to. The most prominent theory is the red string being intertwined with the pinky finger. In Chinese folklore, Yuè Xià Lǎorén, the god of love and marriage, is the deity responsible for the red string of fate. He presented himself to people as an old man under the moonlight, talking to people about their destinies. A well known folk story tells the tale of a young boy who encounters Yuè Xià Lǎorén (or Yue Xia Lao) and is told of his future with another young girl. Showing indifference, the young boy throws a rock at the girl’s face and runs away. Years later, he is set up for an arranged marriage. The woman whom he is set up to marry is the same young girl he threw a rock at during his childhood. The woman still has a scar from the rock and she hides it out of insecurity. It dawns upon the man that the prophecy he dismissed from his childhood was in fact real and that Yue Xia Lao was truthful in the fact he and his arranged wife were bound by fate–by a red string.
Odd, isn’t it? The coincidences that make up life may actually be intentional. A stranger you walk past without a second thought may become the most important person in your entire life. The red string theory is interesting to think about due to the amount of questions that arise. How is your future lover determined from birth? Will the red string ever connect to someone you’re incompatible with? Regardless, it’s fun to think about who your future partner would be and how important they’d become in your life. Suddenly, love doesn’t seem all too bad! You’d be able to experience the Wattpad life you lived vicariously through a screen. I mean just imagine meeting your soulmate and figuring out how they’d complement your personality. Maybe it’s a black cat and golden retriever dynamic: a dynamic where one partner tends to be more introverted and reserved while the other is more extroverted and lively. How funny would it be telling your family about how the person you hated ended up as the most important person in your life? The conversation would go something like this:
“How’d you two meet?”
“Back in high school, I really hated him. But now, I can’t imagine my life without him!”
If your love life is practically dust, not all hope is lost! Perhaps your current circumstances aren’t ideal for maintaining a committed relationship. Maybe you and your special person aren’t in close proximity, or maybe there’s a gap in priorities. It may not be a coincidence that you haven’t found anyone yet because you might find your perfect match soon! Whether it be through coincidence or a scarlet string, love will always find its way into your life. With the right timing and circumstances, eventually your string will untangle and you’ll be enveloped in the love you always dreamed of having.
