There has always been a fervent debate amongst the single community asking if it's better to date friends or if it's better to date romantically straight from the start. Sure, dating and romance are in a league of their own; the chemistry, butterflies in your stomach, the sinking nervous feeling when you catch eyes from across the room.
That's all good and great, but the thing about a long, meaningful relationship –the key, if you will– is dating and falling in love with your best friend.
Obviously there are the exceptions, where people that date strictly for romantic relationship somehow manage to be comfortable enough to be themselves and become close friends… However, that's not the norm. Dating is awkward, you can't be yourself, and it's weirdly like man-shopping. But when you date a friend, you already know them, their woes, their delights, their humor. That's a big win already in the soulmate division.
So if you're dating your soulmate and they're also your best friend, you lucked out.