What is the invisible string theory – And real life examples
When 20-year-old Leah Menzies, a college student from Australia, nervously walked into her boyfriend’s family home, she expected the usual things that happen when meeting parents for the first time. It started that way, especially when his mom pulled out some old photos, as moms often do. But what happened next was anything but normal, as Menzies told POPSUGAR.
While looking through the photo album, they found a picture of her boyfriend’s kindergarten class. The photo showed a bunch of faces she didn’t recognize — except for one. Standing next to her boyfriend in the picture was his teacher, who was also Menzies’s late mother. Menzies lost her mother when she was just 7 years old and never thought her mom would ever meet her future boyfriend. But now, she can proudly say that, in a way, her mom did. Many would call this an “invisible string.”
The idea of an invisible string means that even though people may come and go in our lives, those who are meant to stay will always be connected to us, whether we know it or not. You might have heard about this idea before, maybe in Taylor Swift’s “Folklore” (where she sings about it in a song with the same name) or in the Oscar-nominated movie “Past Lives.” It’s also possible that you’ve come across touching tales on TikTok with over 32 million views under the hashtag of unexpected encounters or reunions of lost loves.
These stories touch us because ideas like fate, destiny, and coincidences have always fascinated us. But how can you tell if this invisible string theory is at work in your own life? Is its widespread use a sign that you’ve already found the right people and things for you? Experts and romantics who have their own invisible string stories say: absolutely, if you believe.
What is the invisible string theory?
The invisible string theory suggests that everyone has someone in their life who is connected to them by an unbreakable string that goes beyond time, distance, and location, says Engle. The main idea behind this theory is that the connection with this person isn’t just by choice, but by fate. “You’re deeply connected with this person throughout your life,” adds Michaela. “It’s like the universe is held together by invisible threads, guiding us to our destinies, whether we want it or not.” And yes, this theory does suggest that there might be just one perfect romantic match for everyone.
But the great thing about the invisible string theory is that it doesn’t only apply to love. You can also think of it in terms of career choices, friendships, or other important life paths, says Michaela. It helps explain “why people come into our lives in ways that don’t always make logical sense, but usually bring us greater fulfilment, purpose, and meaning,” Engle explains.
Invisible String Theory – Real-Life Examples
I was 13 years old when my mother died. It turns out that she was unwittingly friends with my fiancé’s mother throughout their high school years. It wasn’t until one day, when I was showing her random photos of myself on my mom’s Facebook, that my fiancé’s mother realized that she knew my mother. It seemed as though everything fell into place when she saw a picture of herself. She said, “Oh my gosh, I knew her.” We were pals.” — Allie, 23, a native of Tuscaloosa, AL
“I had always considered my son’s girlfriend to be like a daughter. I’ve loved her as if she were one of my own over the years. Through old home camera footage of her birth, years later, I would learn that I had assisted in her delivery on the day of her birth.” Andrea (46), Evans, Georgia
“My spouse and I discovered via old pictures that, prior to our conception, my parents and my husband’s parents shared a residence on the same street. Our paths did not cross till after college. — Seattle-based Dani, 30
“”I broke my husband’s thumb on the playground when we were kids. Not to be laughed at. The strangest thing is that we both left Michigan, where it happened, and reconnected in Los Angeles during our college years. We were both six or seven years old when we played kickball. One of our first dates, we were talking about fractured bones, and I thought, ‘Wait, this seems really familiar.'” 29-year-old Alyssa from Manhattan Beach, CA
“Two years prior to meeting my partner in Baltimore, I worked as a waiter at a Chicago restaurant. Because he tends to stockpile images, he happened to have taken a picture of the receipt from a meal there that he still had. He also took the picture of the total for his friend group. We looked through his camera roll together after I indicated that I had worked there, and sure enough, my name was on the receipt.” Diamond, 29, from Baltimore
“visited a thrift store and purchased some vintage plates. A few years later, I discovered that they belonged to my girlfriend’s grandma.” Molly, a 22-year-old Pitt
I have an old photo of my sweetie from when we were twelve or thirteen. We didn’t actually meet until we were 25, but it was because my friends challenged me to snap a picture with a gorgeous guy we spotted at the movies, not because we were standing in front of each other’s photos at Disney World. And what do you know? That cute guy ended up being my boyfriend right now! I discovered that small piece of history hidden on my iPhone four years later.” Kara, 24, from Ames, Iowa
“About an end table on Facebook Marketplace, I messaged my partner on Facebook. After I informed him of my asking price, he left me on read! It’s odd, but we met years later and are engaged today. We exchanged a brief hello at first. Is this item still in stock? Zoe, 31, from Burlington, Vermont
