How did you know they were The One?

Hi all,

Before you guys call me 'crazy', please bear in mind that I am simply addressing my feelings in a specific moment and in no way shape or form am I trying to talk myself into some delusional mindset.

Basically, right after I moved to a new country/city a few years back, I met this man and at the time, I was still hurting deeply because of a failed 'relationship'. I knew I was not ready for a relationship or a fling for that matter. Yet, as soon as I saw this man from afar (I didn't even see his face, just noticed his demeanor), I felt and instant connection. He clearly felt the same because he came up to me right away. He asked me out a few times, but since we worked together, I declined despite dying to say yes. Yet, a part of me was telling me he would be my future husband or that he was at least going to be meaningful. I didn't listen to that part though, as I thought I was daydreaming (I was 24 at the time) and wanted another person back so badly, that I overlooked this guy.

Fast forward, we lost touch roughly 6 months later and our 'relationship' never progressed further than 'colleagues'. I moved to a few different countries and ended up moving back to the country where I did my undergraduate degree, three hours away by plane. I didn't think much about him at that time. He was still in his home country. However, in the first few weeks of 2016, I remember having this vivid dream of a tunnel with a bright light at the end of it and as I was walking to the end of the tunnel, he was right there standing for me, under this bright yellow/white light. I had this dream a few times. I didn't know why since we hadn't spoken in a long time.

I started thinking of him a lot. Then, a few weeks later I found out he was moving to the city I had just moved back to. After he moved, we started talking (I sort of ended up sending him a friend request on FB without even realizing). I was excited but that was about it. One day, I decided to treat myself to an expensive ring for the first time in my life (I never buy jewellery) as my birthday was coming up and I wanted a ring that signified true love, the type of ring I'd want as an engagement ring. A few minutes after I bought it, he sent me a message asking me out after about a month of no contact! He asked to see me on the same day. I was very excited about it. The date went really well.

Then, we hit a few problems because he's got issues that only he can fix. He joked about how we'd name our children which is something I never discussed with any man actually! We took it as a joke, just like the many times he joked about 'marrying me' on the spot. As I said, he had issues which only he can fix, so we wound up hurting each other.

During our first kiss, I didn't feel the extreme passion I felt with the other men that left me, as I was sitting there, I felt peace ... then for some reason, I almost told him I loved him and for roughly 30 seconds, something came over me telling me he's the man I'm going to marry and have kids with. This is very strange, but I had flashes of him being my husband and our two kids. This is the most bizarre thing. I felt peace but at the same time, I had this vision of family which had never happened to me with any man and God knows I loved one of them to pieces that it took me three years to forget him (yet, I never picture us with kids/a family when we hugged, kissed or were together).

As I said, he had issues and we're not speaking at the moment. Today, I recalled a former conversation with a common friend of ours from years ago, who told me she pictured us engaged/married. We were joking about the wedding, the proposal ... That was years ago! I could not even remember this conversation, as I'm no longer in touch with this friend.

Now that he and I are no longer speaking, it puts my entire experience in perspective.

How did you know the person was 'The One'? I'm not doubting anything, but I'm confused.