Is it a learned talent to see the stranger things in this world that seem quite without explanation? I have at times thought so simply because so many people seem not sense the others around them in any way.

Over time though, I have come to wonder how much of what we sense is simply paying attention and allowing ourselves the freedom to follow through with roads that lead us a little astray of the well worn paths.

It would seem that almost everyone has paranormal stories that they are willing to share in a very noncommittal way; ending the tale with a shrug and a nervous laugh as if to excuse their momentary lapse from reality. These stories are often interesting and have similar components and yet even the people who have experienced them tend to wave them off as flittering events that never really happened.

I have seen this so many times: People who go through something that alters their perspective and gives them a window into the unknown. Perhaps not a definitive answer to the question of do ghosts exist, but certainly something that allows for possibilities. Right after the experience they feel elated, daunted and absolutely certain that they just experienced something extraordinary.

Given time, this feeling fades and eventually they begin to rationalize why what they saw, heard or felt could not have been possible. Over a period of weeks I have watched people I thought for certain would at the very least have walked away from their adventure with an open mind, become completely certain that they somehow imagined an entire event. The fact that others shared their experience, that there may have been recordings to confirm at the very least that it was not hallucination…means nothing. The feeling has faded and with it the desire to hold on.

You can’t blame people for it. A continued relationship with the paranormal can make life difficult and it definitely takes its’ toll on you over time. To pretend that an experience did not take place though, this has always amazed me. I suppose people just feel more comfortable thinking that these things do not happen in real life.

Many people also feel comfortable with varying levels of paranormal experiences. Some feel at ease with the idea of a paranormal psychic who can help others contact their deceased relatives, others prefer to consider that which is difficult to explain as a vague impression that does not truly touch their daily life, but may be close.

So, after watching this and being right in the middle of it my whole life why do I believe people turn away from these events? I have come up with some very basic reasons, easily understandable and also perfectly changeable for those with the inclination:

• Fear: The unknown scares most people. It could after all be dangerous. Also, many societies teach people to fear what they do not understand, a bad habit the human race has formed over time. To have a healthy respect for the unknown is rational, but to fear it to the point where you can’t even take it in for consideration may be preventing you from experiencing some amazing aspects of life.

  Getting control of this is as simple as recognizing why you react the way you do and taking the experience step by step. An example of this might be a scary noise, one that after inspection you feel fairly certain has no explanation that you can find. Naturally this might seem frightening, but after all it is really, at this point, just a noise. Whether it’s a sound coming from a ghost, a creaky floorboard, an alien or stray radio signal it is STILL JUST A NOISE. Until that noise threatens you there really is no reason to be afraid. One step at a time, take in the experience and keep calm.

• Beliefs: Certain religious groups believe that interacting with the paranormal is wrong, even evil. Why this came about and why people still follow this line of thinking today can be difficult to understand. Could the voices of those who can see beyond what our own world shows us give those in power something to fear? Is it that they are concerned that there may be false explanations or ones that are true, but do not support some of their teachings? To take someone or something at their word requires trust and this is just as true for paranormal beings as any human. It concerns me that this might be all about control, a poor way to help people feel closer to their gods by eliminating any outside ideas. I can’t see a god who wants the truth hidden, or for that matter a flock that can’t think for itself. I guess I just believe in stronger deities than that, maybe I’m silly.
• Time: The most common reason I have come in contact with for those who wave off the paranormal is that they simply have too much to do. Dipping into the worlds that exist beside our own takes time and energy and often removes focus from your life here. Many people may have an interest, but simply feel that entire subject is just too daunting and requires attention and focus that they can’t spare. It is a reasonable reaction; after all, we are here to live this life. I do often see that those who feel this way regret that they cannot make time to explore the paranormal and I have often advised that even if only once a year they might take just a day to explore some possibilities so that they do not feel that they are always missing out.

Obviously there are billions of people in the world and many of them may have more specific reasons for not wanting to invest themselves in something that can be both frustrating and difficult to understand. In the end, we are responsible for shaping our lives and to those who would turn away I can only hope that they do it knowing that it is the best path for them and I wish them well.

As for me, well, I have had moments when I have wondered if my life might not be better or at least less stressful if not for these experiences. But for all that it has cost me, I have gained more. Perhaps even more than I will ever understand as a living person, who can say…yet?

Goodbye for now, another end.
Until a time we meet again.

-Seline