Throughout my life, I have always had long-distance friendships. Truly firm, rooted, sincere friendships. It’s a great blessing when you can call a friend at any time of the day or night, no matter where in the world you are. A friends that listens, cry and laugh with you, creates a supportive space to find a solution together through humor. I genuinely feel blessed for my handful of dearest people. Wonderful magical stars that illuminate my life path. From that small and magical circle of people, for this story, I have singled out one very special soul to me. My Claudia. A person I have only met once in real life.
Claudia lives in New Zealand. She is a few years older than me, with a childhood quite similar to mine. We met in the first few minutes at the Vipassana center before signing the contract of silence for 10 days. A few days before going to the center, I volunteered in a forest on the North Island where I was clearing low vegetation to open a view and path to the river. The morning before leaving for the center, I tripped over a branch and twisted my ankle. Quite cinematicaly at 7:30 am on my way to get morning coffee. An adventure at dawn and for the next 2 weeks.
I wasn’t sure if I could sit for 10 hours a day in a meditative position or how I would camp. I was assigned a chair for easier meditation that requires complete bodily stillness. I was also given a camping spot where I set up my tent, which I had to walk to over forest soil – stones, tree roots, earth… A beautiful natural path that was painful at that moment. Claudia saw me and, although we didn’t know each other, went to the manager and stood up for me. She approached me and told me that room number 13 was available.
The shine in her blue eyes, the softness of her voice and sweet accent, a smile full of cheerfulness and excitement… she touched my soul right away. I moved into room number 13 located directly opposite the entrance to the forest. In the meditation center where we had group meditations, she sat two rows in front of me on the left. When the silence was too overwhelming and thoughts almost impossible to quiet down, looking at her was a reminder of why I was here and it brought back my inner strength not to give up. I felt depth and true connection with her from the first second. On the tenth day, we got to know each other. At 6 in the morning after the first meditation, the sky was the brightest red and shining on our skin. Sun was rising and on the way to breakfast, I found myself at the top of a path alone with Claudia. We had an unique conversation that deeply connected us.
That night, along with a group of girls, I went to see glow worms in a stream in the forest. Glow worms (bioluminescent worms), a type of insect that glows in the dark. Neon blue, glowing little stars spread across the water, leaves, and wet stones. True magic in silence, only the sounds of night birds and insects echoed through the forest. The achieved goal and huge gifts I received in 10 days filled every cell of mine. A sense of gratitude led to tears. I was melting into nature. After spending a long time being thankful for the opportunity and gifts that Life gave me, several of us decided to be very brave and follow the path leading into the forest for a night walk.
Adrenaline kicked in and a desire to explore the outside world, after deep inner insights. That step was really brave because, as we know, the forest comes to life in the dark and all sweet, little night animals become very active as soon as the moon appears in the sky. With a still sore ankle, just one flashlight, and a lot of adventurous spirit, we dreamily walked along a small path. At one point, a creature loudly screamed from a tree in front of us! Very, very loudly and dominantly. We jumped in fear! What a rush of feelings in the body. I pointed the flashlight towards the sound and saw a large possum. From the hill on the left, many of his friends started rushing towards us. Nothing could be seen, but the sound of leaves and footsteps getting closer could be heard loudly. I knew they were harmless unless they got scared. Then they become protective and sometimes aggressive. We started running in the other direction as fast as we could. Through the dark forest with just one flashlight that I was carrying. Flashlight and injured ankle. At that moment, nothing hurt me anymore nor the darkness was a problem.
After a crazy, night run, we found ourselves outside the forest and sat on a dimly lit veranda. At that moment, I knew Claudia and I were on the same level and that it was the start of something wonderful. Since then, not a week goes by without us talking. My path took me back to Croatia, and hers to another part of New Zealand. Together we have gone through all kinds of inner and outer journeys, educations, challenging and happy moments, successes, birthdays… All over calls and camera. She is in my closest circle of friends and someone I can always rely on. One of a kind person with a huge heart. Together we cry and laugh, celebrate and support each other. Our relationship is long-distance for several years. I can’t wait for the moment to hug and travel together, wherever it may be. I can’t wait to see her smile live. To thank her in person for all the support, humor, motivation, growth, connection, love, and safety this friendship provides to me.
I could not have imagined that this level of friendship could be achieved at such a great distance that lasts for years. To spend just a few minutes of first contact and one adventure with someone and know that person is not just a passenger. Like children, we feel people and immediately know is it a Yes or No. Let’s play nicely. Cheerfully and fulfilling. The universe always sends us angels. Wonderful magical stars that illuminate my life path. Friends are family. I love you and cant wait for our time together live, wherever on the planet that may be.
Do you have a long-distance friend?
When was the last time you truly hugged a friend and received their hug?
When was the last time you felt true heart connection, whether from a distance or in person?
When was the last time you knew at first sight?
