Most of my religious philosophy is developed from "The Good Place." It ended with the idea that when we die our essence is returned to the universe and gets reused in some way. It's a comforting idea to me.
I love this! I heard a theory recently that was similar, that our individual consciousness survives for a time, and then it rejoins the collective. That’s my favorite theory so far.
There's a show called Midnight Mass that grapples a lot with "what happens after we die", and while the show is much darker in tone than The Good Place, the five minute inner monologue from the dying character in the last episode has stuck with me since I watched it years ago. It also has to do with energy and it's incredibly beautiful and comforting.
Thank you Allison, I just love this so much. I so appreciate you sharing your grief journey. My parents are both gone and I had a deep positive connection to both in very different ways. I am constantly seeing these "signs" because I'm open to it and my parents are not far from my mind. My mental makeup doesn't have me go so far as to say they are signs FROM my parents. It is such a lovely thought and love that for others who can take that leap of faith. But for me, I take comfort in having those signs as a reminder how much they meant to me, how deeply I knew them, and that as long as I am conscious and alive, they still live in me. Also why I love talking about them to younger generations in my family so they will continue to live in their grandchildren after even I'm gone. I have a sister who believes our father talks to her and I also say WHY THE HELL NOT! I love that for her.
This is beautiful, you captured exactly how I think but didn't know how to put into words! Thank you for sharing your insights with us!! Don't know you personally but you really have made an impact on my own mental health journey. Wishing you all the best <3
I feel so happysad reading this and I think that is a LOVELY way of feeling your mom's energy and allowing her essence to live on; for you and your sister to be open to that so soon after her death is beautiful.
I've had a few experiences after my mom died that were entirely in my head but felt like they were sent right from her heart, with her energy radiating through them. I've dreamt about my mom too many times to count since she passed, but there was a particular night when she showed up and suddenly it didn't feel like I was dreaming anymore- it was /her/, not this dream-like version of her I often saw that felt so distant, but just /her./ She didn't say anything, she just held out her arms to give me a hug. I was so in denial about her death at the time, even four years after the fact, that I just shook my head and sobbed, and I woke up shaking my head and sobbing. Later that year, the bunnies I had adopted shortly after her death got very sick and despite every effort, they passed. The moment after the vet called with the awful news, I felt my mom open her arms for that hug again and I took it. I could also hear her music (she was a piano teacher and wrote a collection of songs while she was ill) playing as though she was in the room playing it.
Allison! You should watch Tyler Henry’s show on Netflix. There are actually 2 series. He has one that is a docuseries where he does readings for strangers/regular people. And then there’s his weekly live show on Tuesdays called On the Other Side where you get to see him do LIVE readings so it removes any “well this was probably edited and fake” aspect. But I’d actually watch the docuseries one first because you learn more about him as a person throughout the series. He has totally made me believe that souls do continue on after death and try to send messages to their loved ones. One woman in the docuseries that he read had lost her son and was a huge fan of Tyler and when she was surprised by her boyfriend with a reading from him, she started crying and saying “you’re the reason I’m okay!!!!” So his genuineness, age, and other factors about him make him a really credible medium in my opinion. Check it out! Again, both shows are on Netflix.
I've believed for years that we get to pick our thoughts, and our emotions will follow. (It's science! Really!) I'm with you. What's the harm in seeing things as signs rather than random coincidences? I don't care if it's true or not. If seeing something that reminds me of Mr. J brings me closer to his memory, I'll take it. Gladly! The only moment we have is now. Right now. I'm so glad you and your sister are sharing your purple jewelry encounters with each other. Sending love and light.
I feel I developed a faith and spirituality (though no participation in any organized religion) mainly out of fear of death being the end of all. I want to believe. And I really do believe.
Every post about your mom resonates so deeply for me. Regardless of whether the signs are “real” or not, you’re still connecting to your mom through them and I think that’s a lovely practice.
I recently had a very minor medical thing done, and I always get nervous for it. When I was checking out, the nurse handling my paperwork had on the exact same ring as one that I have from my mom (she got it in the 70s and gave it to me maybe a decade ago, and I’ve been wearing it ever since). I took that as a sign from my mom, who passed about a year ago, that I didn’t need to worry, and that I was going to be okay (and I was!).
this is something that i have thought and felt at many times in my life: “Since we don’t know what happens when we die, we might as well assume it’s something wonderful and we will get to be together again someday.”
i also very much like this: "maybe I am someone who, instead of leading with a I Don’t Know mentality, leads with a Why The Hell Not one. A take on life I know my mom, who also loved to curse, would approve."
also, may i add something that nicely accompanies "the hell not" could be "the heaven yes" (or even "why the hell not? because the heaven yes")
Most of my religious philosophy is developed from "The Good Place." It ended with the idea that when we die our essence is returned to the universe and gets reused in some way. It's a comforting idea to me.
I love this! I heard a theory recently that was similar, that our individual consciousness survives for a time, and then it rejoins the collective. That’s my favorite theory so far.
There's a show called Midnight Mass that grapples a lot with "what happens after we die", and while the show is much darker in tone than The Good Place, the five minute inner monologue from the dying character in the last episode has stuck with me since I watched it years ago. It also has to do with energy and it's incredibly beautiful and comforting.
Thank you Allison, I just love this so much. I so appreciate you sharing your grief journey. My parents are both gone and I had a deep positive connection to both in very different ways. I am constantly seeing these "signs" because I'm open to it and my parents are not far from my mind. My mental makeup doesn't have me go so far as to say they are signs FROM my parents. It is such a lovely thought and love that for others who can take that leap of faith. But for me, I take comfort in having those signs as a reminder how much they meant to me, how deeply I knew them, and that as long as I am conscious and alive, they still live in me. Also why I love talking about them to younger generations in my family so they will continue to live in their grandchildren after even I'm gone. I have a sister who believes our father talks to her and I also say WHY THE HELL NOT! I love that for her.
This is beautiful, you captured exactly how I think but didn't know how to put into words! Thank you for sharing your insights with us!! Don't know you personally but you really have made an impact on my own mental health journey. Wishing you all the best <3
I feel so happysad reading this and I think that is a LOVELY way of feeling your mom's energy and allowing her essence to live on; for you and your sister to be open to that so soon after her death is beautiful.
I've had a few experiences after my mom died that were entirely in my head but felt like they were sent right from her heart, with her energy radiating through them. I've dreamt about my mom too many times to count since she passed, but there was a particular night when she showed up and suddenly it didn't feel like I was dreaming anymore- it was /her/, not this dream-like version of her I often saw that felt so distant, but just /her./ She didn't say anything, she just held out her arms to give me a hug. I was so in denial about her death at the time, even four years after the fact, that I just shook my head and sobbed, and I woke up shaking my head and sobbing. Later that year, the bunnies I had adopted shortly after her death got very sick and despite every effort, they passed. The moment after the vet called with the awful news, I felt my mom open her arms for that hug again and I took it. I could also hear her music (she was a piano teacher and wrote a collection of songs while she was ill) playing as though she was in the room playing it.
Allison! You should watch Tyler Henry’s show on Netflix. There are actually 2 series. He has one that is a docuseries where he does readings for strangers/regular people. And then there’s his weekly live show on Tuesdays called On the Other Side where you get to see him do LIVE readings so it removes any “well this was probably edited and fake” aspect. But I’d actually watch the docuseries one first because you learn more about him as a person throughout the series. He has totally made me believe that souls do continue on after death and try to send messages to their loved ones. One woman in the docuseries that he read had lost her son and was a huge fan of Tyler and when she was surprised by her boyfriend with a reading from him, she started crying and saying “you’re the reason I’m okay!!!!” So his genuineness, age, and other factors about him make him a really credible medium in my opinion. Check it out! Again, both shows are on Netflix.
I've believed for years that we get to pick our thoughts, and our emotions will follow. (It's science! Really!) I'm with you. What's the harm in seeing things as signs rather than random coincidences? I don't care if it's true or not. If seeing something that reminds me of Mr. J brings me closer to his memory, I'll take it. Gladly! The only moment we have is now. Right now. I'm so glad you and your sister are sharing your purple jewelry encounters with each other. Sending love and light.
I feel I developed a faith and spirituality (though no participation in any organized religion) mainly out of fear of death being the end of all. I want to believe. And I really do believe.
Every post about your mom resonates so deeply for me. Regardless of whether the signs are “real” or not, you’re still connecting to your mom through them and I think that’s a lovely practice.
I recently had a very minor medical thing done, and I always get nervous for it. When I was checking out, the nurse handling my paperwork had on the exact same ring as one that I have from my mom (she got it in the 70s and gave it to me maybe a decade ago, and I’ve been wearing it ever since). I took that as a sign from my mom, who passed about a year ago, that I didn’t need to worry, and that I was going to be okay (and I was!).
<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
What an amazing read.
I feel like if nothing else, your mom did create your connection to purple and to jewelry, so in that way she is “making this happen” either way.
😭🫶🏻
I always say I never trust anyone who never responds to a question with "I don't know." <3
💜💜💜
Why the hell not! 💯
dear allison,
another beautiful piece (and a PERFECT title)!
this is something that i have thought and felt at many times in my life: “Since we don’t know what happens when we die, we might as well assume it’s something wonderful and we will get to be together again someday.”
i also very much like this: "maybe I am someone who, instead of leading with a I Don’t Know mentality, leads with a Why The Hell Not one. A take on life I know my mom, who also loved to curse, would approve."
also, may i add something that nicely accompanies "the hell not" could be "the heaven yes" (or even "why the hell not? because the heaven yes")
thank you for sharing all of this as always!
love
myq