Does anyone have experiences that have made them believe in life after death?

[Magicpaintbrush]

My DH died in April. He had bowel cancer and was only 46 years old and not ready to die. I made the mistake today of picking up the photo album I made full of photos of him and I am having a really tough morning, my heart is absolutely broken. The only thing that gets me through the days is talking aloud to him and hoping that he is somewhere 'else' and can hear me or see me, but then I have moments where I think I am kidding myself and I am just a sad, grieving woman talking to thin air. I don't know what to believe, I hover between the two. But today I absolutely cannot and do not want to believe that there is nothing after death, I can't cope with the thought that he exists nowhere at all anywhere. He was so strong and had so much personality, it makes no sense. Does anybody have any personal experiences or know of any true stories that have led them to believe there is 'something' after we die? I would find it really comforting to hear from people that believe and have a reason why they believe. To those who believe we are just dust after death, you may be right, but today I can't hear that, and I don't need to be told that as I already know that is possible - which is why I haven't posted this in AIBU as I know the first 30 replies would be people rushing to tell me I'm deluding myself by hoping there is something more than darkness after we die. If anybody has anything to share that would bring some comfort today I am very ready to listen x

After Mum died, both Dad and I were aware of her presence in the house. Dad was very straight up and down but even he agreed when I said this to him.

Two days before her funeral, I had an incredibly vivid dream that Mum came to me. She looked about 23 and was fully healthy.

The following day, Mum was gone from the house. I waited to see if Dad mentioned it and by lunchtime he noticed and said that she has moved on and had I noticed. I told him about the dream and how beautiful she looked.

The funeral was much easier on us both as she had shed her diseased body and was free.

Dad had been gone some years and my ex had left for an OW. I bought him out of the house but it was falling down and needed serious money and effort.

I was in the pits of despair one January night. It was bitter cold and I was sitting on my bed in tears and asked Dad what I should do. Sell up or find a way to pay for the work needed. I didn't have the strength for any of it at that point.

Despite it being the middle of winter, a fresh green leaf dropped into my lap from nowhere. I took this as a sign from my Dad to keep going. Things would improve and they did. I met my now DH the following year and we took the house down and rebuilt it.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Please do keep talking to your husband. I don't have any firm answers or beliefs in the particular subject, but what I do know for certain is that there is something so much more to the world, and to life, than we can possibly comprehend with our living brains. I do wonder if everything will make sense after we die.

Like many others on this thread, shortly before my grandma died, she looked up, and asked the person in the room with her at the time, 'can you see them?'. She looked happy. That was comforting.

I'm so sorry for your loss, @Magicpaintbrush . You described your dh so vividly and with so much love that it brought tears to my eyes.

I completely believe that this life isn't all there is, and that our consciousness, our spirit I guess, lives on. After my mother died, myself and both my siblings had vivid experiences. In my case, a letter that she'd sent me, which had been in a dresser drawer, appeared randomly in the centre of the floor for no reason. My dh didn't put it there and neither had I.

A few days later, an item moved by itself in my bedroom. I heard a noise, looked over, and watched this item on the bedside table slowly come to a stop. I said out loud, 'Mum, if that was you, do something else so that I'm sure.' And immediately, something else on the bedside table moved. (I know how bonkers this sounds, but it happened!) My siblings both had similar experiences around the same time.

Also, I can't even count the number of times I've turned on the car radio and a particular song is playing which was meaningful to my father and myself (my dad died when I was 20).

I believe you'll see your dh again, OP. I hope you can find some comfort in these stories, and wish I could give you a hug.

I posted further upthread and I’m following new posts with interest.

I feel very envious, and somewhat depressed about this thread.

Robins along with wrens are about the most numerous bird in this country. They are everywhere all year round (they don’t migrate), so when I see one I’m not comforted.

Nor am I comforted by feathers. Birds are everywhere. Feathers are also in puffer jackets, pillows and duvets.

I’m not even comforted by songs playing at key moments: algorithms in tech are extremely clever.

I went to three separate ‘demonstrations of mediumship’ and was appalled, amused and, tbh, depressed at the obvious frantic phishing and guesswork that was going on.

I need comfort; I would love to believe my dear husband isn’t really so far away after all. But I don’t (often) find it. What’s wrong with me? Am I just too science-y / sceptical to be comforted by the things that comfort other people?

I did have the usual dreams that he was alive and came back, in the weeks and months after he died, but I believe this is common to everyone in the aftermath of a very close and abrupt bereavement.

Im 18 months along now and although the shock has worn off a bit, my devastation has not.

I believe you will see your DH again. Lost my own DH nine years ago …..when I first set eyes on him a strong sensation came into my mind from nowhere….. “ah, there you are”. The rest is history and 40 years of happy marriage until his death. I recognised him in that moment from somewhere I can’t explain. DH had no such feeling or recognition. I fully expect to encounter him again somewhere. Only one other “ experience” to support this belief regarding my late father. One night a dream but not a dream…. I was awake and aware, but I knew I was asleep in my bed DH beside me. Crawling along an asphalt road with a heavy load on my back, I was aware of a presence at my side that I could not see. I became aware it was my late father. I never saw him and he never spoke. The load was lifted from my back. I stood up and he walked with me for a short time. the experience then ended. I am confident I will see him again as well.

At my husband's funeral a couple of months ago, just as the curtains were closing in front of the coffin a white feather floated down. Apparently in some cultures it is a sign from the person who died to reassure us they are at peace and happy. I hope it's true.