What is Soul? | An Invisible Thread

Sometimes the best memories are the ones we don’t plan. (Don't judge us, just yet! We're being financially irresponsible with spontaneity.) We went to Iligan and, without much thought, decided to stay the night. It was me, Pat, my best friend, and her boyfriend, just the four of us chasing a pause.

The city greeted us with its quiet charm. We didn’t need grand plans; a simple staycation was what we needed to fuel us for the next work week. We laughed, shared stories, and let the night carry us. That one night reminded me that rest doesn’t have to be complicated. A quick escape, good company, and a change of scenery can fuel you for the week ahead.

On the bus ride home, Pat and I  listened to music, laughed, and shared our thoughts. It was such an intimate moment between us two—a reminder of how important it is to reconnect with your partner. 

When Mariah Carey’s Hero played, Pat explained the meaning of the song and let me read through the lyrics. As I took them in, my chest tightened, and tears fell. The words spoke directly to what I’ve been through these past few months, and it was as if the song reached into my heart and gave me permission to feel.

That moment reminded me of a question Jasmine once asked Pat: “What is soul?”

For me, a soul is more than just what keeps us alive — it’s the essence that reaches beyond ourselves. A soul shows itself when someone’s gifts touch another person’s heart. It’s in the way a song can move you to tears, the way a story can make you feel seen, or the way kindness can soften even the hardest days.

The soul is a connection. It’s invisible, but you know it when you feel it, like when music carries emotions you didn’t have words for, or when someone’s presence makes you feel safe without explanation.

It's whenever I listen to music, and I feel the singer's heart and soul. I can easily recognize if it came from one's soul; the intention behind it, the tenderness of the tone, etc. That's when music becomes more than just a sound; it becomes an integral part of one's essence. A proof of humanity's uniqueness and God's love.  

It’s when artists use colors, words, or music to show us theirs, to let us glimpse what goes on in their mind and how they view the world from their perspective. That sharing of inner vision is the soul at work.

I see it in writers, too. Whenever I have an idea for this blog, I make sure my words are intentional. I pour my soul into these words, hoping that my readers understands the depth of my perspective on the world.

I think of how God intricately made each of us, weaving talents and uniqueness into our being. Each soul carries something different, and when we share those gifts, we leave traces of ourselves in others. That, to me, is the soul at work.

And I’m in awe of people who carry musical ears, like Pat. They don’t just hear notes; they hear feelings, and they translate them into something that touches others. That’s soul: when what’s inside you becomes a gift for someone else.

Sometimes, all it takes is one night away, one bus ride home, or one song to remind us: peace finds us in the simplest moments.

E.