u/Puzzleheaded_Bid6011

Yesterday I had an in person appointment booked with my therapist. She texted me in the morning stating that her child was home sick and she needed to stay with her, but we could reschedule the appointment for later this week or switch it to a telehealth appointment.

I replied and thanked her for letting me know, and stated that I will be out of town for the rest of the week so rescheduling this week would not work for me. I also stated that (as I have discussed with her in previous sessions) telehealth appointments for therapy are not an effective treatment option as I have prior trauma associated with it (family member listening from outside the room and punishing me for things ive said during the session). She responded and said that was fine and she understood, but I would likely have to pay a last minute cancelation fee because I "canceled" the appointment within 24 hours of the session.

I responded to her that I felt that the cancelation fee is unnecessary because I am not the one who canceled. I was fully ready to show up to our in person, scheduled appointment. I said I understand that life happens and children get sick, but I dont feel I should be penalized due to her last minute change in schedule. She said she understood and she would have to look into it, but I would likely be responsible for the fee. She again offered to do telehealth for even a short session.

Telehealth is a hard no for me and I dont want to let that boundary up. I declined the service, and reiterated that I felt a no show fee was not appropriate.

In the end, she got back to me and I dont have to pay a fee. But the whole situation has left a bad feeling in my stomach. I feel like the situation has given me a bad view of her and the practice. I dont want to be pressured into doing something that I dont want to do. I fear that this will happen again in the future.

So, WIBTA for dumping my therapist for threatening me with a no show fee for refusing to convert my in person session to telehealth due to her own life/schedule conflicts?

I am very early on my spiritual awakening path. Like many who are just starting to tune in, I struggle deeply with a logical mind that wants to dismiss every miracle as "sheer coincidence." To combat this doubt, I have been actively projecting thoughts to my great grandmother, who passed away suddenly and unexpectedly just this past March. For the day of my sons birthday, I asked specifically for signs that are so blatant, so obvious, and so indisputable that I simply cannot talk myself out of them.

​This past weekend was my son’s first birthday, and I felt a deep need for a connection with my great grandmother. I needed to know she was with us for this milestone, as she was planning to be there before she unexpectedly passed.

​The morning of the party, a literal commotion broke out in our basement. Somehow, a grackle had found its way into our basement and was flying frantically to get back outside. My cats were in a frenzy, and it took four adults (myself, my husband, and two close friends) to safely guide the bird back outside.

​I couldn't stop laughing. A bird has never, ever been in our basement before. The timing was pinpoint: it happened right as two of our friends arrived to the house (to ensure there were witnesses) and before the party started (to ensure the sign wouldn't be lost in the noise). It felt like my great grandmother was truly making her presence known with a bit of chaotic humor. My friend, who knew nothing of my private request for a sign, came up the stairs with goosebumps after googling the meaning of a bird in the house. She looked at me and said, "That has to be her."

Later, during the party, I brought a small photo of my great grandmother into the dining room. It’s a picture of her happily drinking a margarita. I placed it on the table, facing the room, so she could "party" with us. I didn't tell anyone about the photo's significance. It was just a quiet invitation.

​When it came time to sing "Happy Birthday," we gathered around my son’s high chair in the corner. After we finished singing, I knelt down on the floor to be at his level, soaking in the joy of the moment. When I looked over toward the table, the frame had been turned perfectly to face my son. It wasn't just slightly askew. It had rotated specifically to watch him as we sang.

​In the past, I would have blamed a coincidence for the bird or a bumped table for the photo. But the stacking of these events, after a specific plea for "undeniable signs", has left me with a sense of peace.

​For those of you further along the path: How do you handle the moments when the "logical brain" tries to reclaim the narrative? For now, I’m choosing to trust the goosebumps, the laughter, and the gut intuition I feel regarding these signs.

This morning I was in that phase between sleeping and waking. I was dreaming that I was picking up shoes in my living room (fun stuff, I know) and I could hear my son, in the waking world, making noise over the monitor on my bedside. I suddenly heard in a very friendly, kind male voice, with perhaps an English accent "Hello old friend. Its been a while". The voice was loud, crisp and clear as if they were standing right behind me, close to my right ear just over my shoulder. The words kind of jolted me because in the dream, nobody was in the room- neither in my dream or in the waking world. And I was having the most mundane dream of picking up shoes and realizing that it was time to wake up soon because I could hear my son (I often know I am dreaming, but I dont think too far into it in the dream scape). I opened my eyes right after I heard the voice and went about my day.

Anyways, yesterday afternoon I completed a 30 minute meditation with the intention of making contact with my spirit guide. I have general questions, but really seek to feel the presence and bond and any guidance they have to offer me in this life. The meditation felt fruitless, but I am fairly new to meditating so this wasn't discouraging. I just figured I would try again the next day.

Could that have been the voice I heard? Or was I just dreaming some disembodied voice? Have any of you had any similar experiences? Or do you have any suggestions or guidance for me?

This morning I was in that phase between sleeping and waking. I was dreaming that I was picking up shoes in my living room (fun stuff, I know) and I could hear my son, in the waking world, making noise over the monitor on my bedside. I suddenly heard in a very friendly, kind male voice, with perhaps an English accent "Hello old friend. Its been a while". The voice was loud, crisp and clear as if they were standing right behind me, close to my right ear just over my shoulder. The words kind of jolted me because in the dream, nobody was in the room- neither in my dream or in the waking world. And I was having the most mundane dream of picking up shoes and realizing that it was time to wake up soon because I could hear my son (I often know I am dreaming, but I dont think too far into it in the dream scape). I opened my eyes right after I heard the voice and went about my day.

Anyways, yesterday afternoon I completed a 30 minute meditation with the intention of making contact with my spirit guide. I have general questions, but really seek to feel the presence and bond and any guidance they have to offer me in this life. The meditation felt fruitless, but I am fairly new to meditating so this wasn't discouraging. I just figured I would try again the next day.

Could that have been the voice I heard? Or was I just dreaming some disembodied voice? Have any of you had any similar experiences? Or do you have any suggestions or guidance for me?