Last week, when I was on one my power walks, I reminded myself to call a friend and ask her for the name of a product I needed from her friend, Sandra, since she and I are distant acquaintances. Just as I approached the park, I saw a woman in dark sunglasses who looked just like Sandra. I approached. I looked. I removed my sunglasses and looked again. It was her.

After telling her my surprise at having her materialise the minute I thought of her, considering she lives nowhere near the area, she said to me,

“We always attract the people we need.”

I walked away deep in thought. Do we have an intrinsic force that makes a certain type of person flock to us? Do we strike friendships or relationships with people who can give us something in return? Do we attract a partner or a friend who can fulfil certain criteria at the time, and do we drift apart when they no longer provide what we need?

I thought it was the law of attraction and commonalities. But is it more akin to simple economics, a case of need and demand?

Looking back, there was one instance when I was inexplicably drawn to someone through a shared experience. I felt I could help him and I gave it all I could, for which he is grateful. And that left me wondering, if we attract the people we need, what did I need from him…