do you believe in signs?

[erised]

I've always believed some things are "signs" of sorts. Not like looking for signs in nature, but just that some events are trying to lead you in a certain direction.

Recently, I'd been feeling some work burn-out and thinking about a vacation. It's been over 1 year since I've taken an actual vacation (more than just a long weekend), but I decided against it in August. Then, on August 28 I got in a car accident. I got some neck and hip injuries that were pretty painful and sitting at a computer for 8 hours aggravated my injuries, but I decided to go to work anyways. Just when I was starting to feel like I was improving, I was in another car wreck on Sept. 10-- almost 2 weeks to the day from my last wreck! Needless to say, it was a setback in my recovery, and my injuries are worse than before. Now I'm taking a week off work to try to heal faster.

I didn't have my 1st wreck till I was almost 21. So for 5 years (16 to 21) I went w/o a wreck. Then I made it from 21 to almost 25 w/o a wreck. So that was almost 4 years. What are the chances of 2 car wrecks w/in 2 weeks? It seems like something is telling me to take a break. I didn't listen the 1st time, so it came back and hit me even harder-- literally.

Do you believe in signs? Has anything happened that you took as a sign and acted on?

[MNJetter]

I believe in signs. Or more accurately, I believe in a guiding force that tries to nudge us along the right path. Usually my "signs" are a good deal gentler than car wrecks, but you never know - the only person who can possibly know is you.

[Agent Vesago]

I don’t look for signs like that, but I do keep an eye on my surroundings for trouble.

[tweek.3867]

I tend to believe in them myself... ironically enough I've been getting the feeling that I've been getting a lot of signs in regards to my current relationship, but I never really thought of them that way. The fact that you mention this right now of all times is starting to creep me out... almost like this thread is a sign [oh snap].

[Psychochink]

I responded to what could only have been a sign just the other day...

Yea verily, I was bereft of entertainment while relaxing in my humble abode, and seeking an entertaining diversion. Wandering aimlessly, I came upon the cupboard where I store my nourishing vittles. Acting on impulse, and despite the fact that I was not in need of sustenance, I opened said cupboard.

Imagine my surprise when, nestled like a baby bird amongst my rice, pasta and lentils, I discovered a bottle of 151. "Truly," I said to myself, "providence has blessed me with this most alcoholic of beverages and it is a sign that I must now become awfully inebriated and watch mediocre moving pictures."

So I did.

Signs are your mind justifying something you wanted to do anyway.

[erised]

Signs are your mind justifying something you wanted to do anyway.

Possibly... or maybe they're just things that you couldn't see before. Like even if it had happend 2 months ago, maybe you wouldn't have reacted the same way b/c you weren't ready for it.

(and your story was funny)

Oh, I thought of another example of a "sign" that I acted on. One night I really wanted to go out, but only 1 of my friends was going out that night (w/a bunch of people I didn't know). I decided to go along, but I had to stop for cash. I went to 3 ATM's, but I couldn't get my card to work. Since I had no cash, I couldn't pay for cover or parking. I tried to call my friend, but she was already out and didn't hear her phone ring. I took my inability to get cash or reach anyone as a sign that I shouldn't go, so I went back home. The next day, my friend told me she had been at Bailey's, and I had been trying to get to Barley's. If I'd gone out, I would've gone to the wrong place and been alone downtown late at night (plus I would've had to park somewhere very scarey since I couldn't pay).

Things like that make me believe in signs. I think things happen for a reason.

[Jetsetlemming]

Erised, you were exausted from overworking, and thus couldn't drive/pay attention/react as well. Your body definitely gives off signs. Most things do naturally that you can pick up on. If a friend snaps at you, and is acting surly, then that's a sign they're in a bad mood. If someone's all smiles, then they're in a good mood. If you feel hungry, you need food. If you feel the need for time off, you need a break. :P
As far as supernatural signs, every now and again I get premonition dreams. Rarely do they mean anything significant, though. Just a small glimpse at something pointless in the future. =\

[Nannou]

I believe in signs

if I didn't, I'd never be able to go anywhere in Tokyo

[Sock Full of Boiled Dimes]

What exactly happened in those wrecks?

[Masa the Masta]

I believe in signs.

[Candyvan Stan]

Not really normally, no.

But 7 years ago I went to Spain. On the beach, some Spanish dude was making caricatures of people in exchange for payment. I thought it'd be fun if he made one of me, so I paid him the money and let his imagination go wild. Afterwards, he made a heavily stylized boy (that, at that moment, looked only slightly like me with blond hair and blue eyes) in a Karate/Taekwon-do/Judo/whatever uniform with black belt performing a flying kick (a technique most often associated with Taekwon-do).

Back then, I thought nothing of it. I didn't care for sports, and certainly wasn't going to join a martial art. It seemed extremely boring to me, as opposed to video games. Those are very exciting!

Now, 7 years later, with two years of Karate behind me and nine months of being my Taekwon-do schools most promising and hard working whitebelt (my instructor's words, not mine) and basically being addicted to everything martial art, and the picture looking MUCH more like I do now, even with the hair slightly similar, I do think of the picture as a sign, yeah.

Why I felt like telling this? No idea - just a fun story, I guess.

[JapaneseLever]

Let's see.. I'm a dual math major so I guess it would be safe to assume that I believe in sine.

[sushi]

I believe in signs although i haven't experienced one as yet.

[Spaatz965]

Let's see.. I'm a dual math major so I guess it would be safe to assume that I believe in sine.

Since you're a *dual* math major, wouldn't that be cosine?:D

[Kannon]

It's hard to say sometimes. I used to believe in a lot of supernatural things such as signs and what not, usually regarding my "love" life. More recently I've decided what I used to believe was crap. I don't believe there is one person out there for me. There is milllions of people that are compatable, and it just depends on who you run into and what you say and do to eventually create a bond that leads to a long term relationship. As far as the rest of the aspects of my life goes, I've never really felt guided in anything I do, no matter how much I'd like to be, to tell the truth.

Edit: I just remembered something that used to happen to me often. JSL's post made me think of it. In high school not only did I get the feeling of deja vu often, I would have dreams now and then that seemed meaningless, only to have them happen weeks later. As JSL said, I guess it could be called a premonition, but was usually about meaningless conversations or activites in school... =/

[King Kong]

Some of y'all need to stop watching the sci-fi channel.

[ClubCrKz]

I don't post much but I saw this thread...

At 8 AM Monday Morning, I was involved in a car accident that should have left me dead. I was t-boned at about 37 MPH on the driver's side, both doors pushed in by like two feet. What is so interesting is the passenger window behind me popped, but my window to the left of my head bent but did not pop. And it was bent like crazy, to the point where even safety glass would pop. And I don't want to go into the whole story but according to everyone who saw my car, by all rights I should be sitting in a cold room with some dude harvesting my organs and emptying my bowels and stuffing me up with corn starch.

I don't know what kind of sign that can be, other than I really stopped believing in religious things. I still don't but an atheist friend of mine is sort of spooked by how I'm even walking and talking.

Meh...

Anyways...like I said I don't want to get into the full story. I lost my effing car for fuck's sake! :'(

[erised]

Erised, you were exausted from overworking, and thus couldn't drive/pay attention/react as well.

No, both times I was sitting still (at a dead stop) and some dork plowed into me from behind. I had nothing to do w/it other than being in that location when the dork came along. They weren't paying attention. In the 2nd wreck, the guy hit me so hard that he drove me into the car in front of me. That car's trailer hitch punched a hole thru my front bumper. >_<

Edit:
Kannon/JSL- Me too! Sometimes I have dreams about stuff that happens later, but it's rarely of any significance.
Michael- That's almost creepy. O_o

[Jetsetlemming]

No, both times I was sitting still (at a dead stop) and some dork plowed into me from behind. I had nothing to do w/it other than being in that location when the dork came along. They weren't paying attention. In the 2nd wreck, the guy hit me so hard that he drove me into the car in front of me. That car's trailer hitch punched a hole thru my front bumper. >_<

Oh. >_> Well, then, the crashes really didn't have too much to do with work, though they wouldn't have happened if you were on vacation at the time, you could say. *shrug*

Kannon/JSL- Me too! Sometimes I have dreams about stuff that happens later, but it's rarely of any significance.

It's interesting how many people claim to have experiences like this, though it's completely ignored in public or passed off as fantasy.

[setrict]

Yes. Signs Signs everywhere are signs. Blocking out the scenery, breaking my mind. Do this, don't do that. Can't you read the signs?

I don't think of them as supernatural signs per se though, more like clues and feelings you have to be watching for. I think we consciously process only a small part of what we observe, and that many of the 'signs' are really just our subconscious finding a focus object or event capable of getting our conscious attention. The other type are self-fulfiling prophecies, where people believe a sign so much they make subconscious choices that increase the chances it will come true.

On the other hand, I am absolutely sure there is a supernatural force in existence which I will term "The I told you so" force, and it likes it's job very, very much.

[erised]

a supernatural force in existence which I will term "The I told you so" force

I like that name. ^_~ lol

[japanat]

Actually, there was a study done of air crashes in the late 70s, that was a little weird. Most (not all, but a statistically significant number) of passenger plane crashes up to that time had higher than usual no-show and cancellation rates. Full planes don't crash as often.

Having said that, the signs I believe in say "Stop", "Yield", "Watch for falling rocks" and "外国人だめ". Although if one of my kids suddenly refused to board a plane, I'd find a way to reschedule, and transfer fees be damned!

[Spike]

Edit: I just remembered something that used to happen to me often. JSL's post made me think of it. In high school not only did I get the feeling of deja vu often, I would have dreams now and then that seemed meaningless, only to have them happen weeks later. As JSL said, I guess it could be called a premonition, but was usually about meaningless conversations or activites in school... =/

I've had some that went years ahead. Completely meaningless 99.9% of the time though. Like, completely forget about it because it seems so stupidly different, just your mind imagining in a rather reality based setting, then bam, that euphoric, chiling feeling you've seen/heard/felt whatever you're doing. I had one a few weeks ago though, was in my car and hit a pedestrian...I'm hoping this was just a bad dream, or some weird subconscious logic that came from my friends always yelling at me when I drive. :(

[The Divine Comedy]

I get that same kind of dream. I dream of a meaningless "snapshot" of time, me doing something or another really random thing. Then weeks, months or years later, I'm doing something and suddenly there's a "click" and I remember that I've dreamed it before. The feeling goes away quickly, though. :/

I also occasionally get a cold, sick feeling in my stomach when I know something bad's going to happen. It usually only happens right before the event or during the beginning of it, so it's not much use.

[c-rex]

http://image3.birthdaycards.com/dbc/i/c/shs_SpeedLimit70.jpg
Hell No!

But seriously, I think most of the signs we see every day come from pattern recognition. By default our brain tries to link things and will use all kinds of weird variables and patterns to link people, events, emotions, etc. For example many girls will often associate a special body wash or deodorant with their boyfriend or ex boyfriend. Rather odd to have one of your main memories of a person be based on the fact they wear Tag. Or that old "I was thinking of a person and then bam they called me...". Yet how often have you thought of the person and they didn't call? Your brain only retains the events that occurred that were of significant import. For your car wrecks, you've had them and now your brain tries to link them. It picks another recent event and establishes connection. To me two car wrecks in two weeks is a statistical blip (my record is my mom's rental car being hit while her regular car is under repairs from an accident).
To me all that the two wrecks mean was the conditions were correct for an accident. Events in life are like that seven degrees of Kevin Bacon game, you can always play around with them and get the desired outcome.

[Josh]

One time I had a dream that my friends and I robbed a house and we got busted by the cops and got into some serious trouble, obviously.

Couple months later this dude asked if we wanted to break into a house and, remembering my dream, I opted out. They got arrested and all that good stuff. Now they are on probation and im not. Haha!

[erised]

To me two car wrecks in two weeks is a statistical blip (my record is my mom's rental car being hit while her regular car is under repairs from an accident).
To me all that the two wrecks mean was the conditions were correct for an accident.

What do the statistics say about the last a-hole not having insurance? >_< But he made a big goof and told me where he works, so if he thinks not returning my insurance agent's phone calls will be the end of it, then he's very wrong. I plan to "have lunch" at the restaurant one day, and I'll make sure to take the estimate w/me. He won't like the tip he gets that day. Don't mess w/me; I'm evil when provoked...

I would really like to get his license revoked or his car impounded. If he's driving w/o insurance, he doesn't deserve either of them. And I know he won't be able to earn money w/o his car, but honestly, I doubt I'll see a dime of his $ anyways (but that doesn't mean I won't give him hell in the meantime). When I file an uninsured driver claim w/my insurance, I'll have to pay the $500 deductible. They'll pay it back to me IF they get the full amount back from him. I wonder if they'll sue... she just said they'll pursue litigation. It's a good thing I don't work in that business-- it would turn me into a monster.

Also, my agent's boss is the husband of his manager at the restaurant... is that a sign? Or just a strange twist to the saga? The only thing I can think of for it being a sign, is that it might be a sign he'll get fired. I'd fire an employee if I found out they were driving w/o insurance, had a wreck, and then kept ducking their responsibility to take care of it. People normally treat strangers better than people they know (politer anyways), so if he'll leave other people high and dry, who's to say he wouldn't do it to people he works with? Plus it's terribly irresponsible.

[Jetsetlemming]

Driving without car insurance in itself is a crime. You can get your car impounded for it, not to mention a heavy fine and a licence suspension in all probability.

[erised]

Yeah, the cops cited him for 'no proof' b/c he said he had insurance, but I want more than that. I'm about to lose $500, and he's not getting off that easy.

[Overkongen]

I believe in roadsigns. They help me not to get into crashes.

[EvilFred]

I don't really believe in 'signs' myself but I suppose that it doesn't hurt anything to believe in them.

[ultimatedragoon]

i do. i didnt used to but ive had a lot of fortune cookies and different kinds of weird signs popping up all over that have recently made me believe. im not too superstitious but it's a combination of all the little things that start making you unsure whether or not there really are 'sign's'. can't think of any good examples but the next one i get ill post.

[Candyvan Stan]

I get that same kind of dream. I dream of a meaningless "snapshot" of time, me doing something or another really random thing. Then weeks, months or years later, I'm doing something and suddenly there's a "click" and I remember that I've dreamed it before. The feeling goes away quickly, though. :/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deja_vu

[I Monkey]

I believe in signs too. About 3 years ago, I really liked this Japanese girl at my school. I didn't know she was Japanese untill the schoolyear was almost ending. But since I'm quite shy, I wanted to impress her by studying Japanese at home. So I studied really hard during the summer holidays. But when the new schoolyear started, I heard she moved to Japan. But I kept on studying, just in case she would return.
So last year's summer holidays, I decided to quit studying Japanese because I didn't have anyone to speak Japanese to and I didn't have any motivation. Then the new schoolyear started and had a Japanese exchange student in my class!! She could hardly speak English and she couldn't speak Dutch at all. So I was the only guy who could talk to her. This must be a sign... So now I'm still studying Japanese...

So now, I really like an other girl. She's half Japanese half Australian. She was going on a trip to Japan for 3 weeks in August to meet her Japanese family. But since she can't speak Japanese, she wanted to take a Japanese course before she was going. But eventually, she didn't have time to take one so she asked me to teach her.(OHYEAH! thank God I didn't quit sudying!). I would come to her house and teach her there. But since I didn't know where she's living, we would meet at our "dancing school" near her house.
So when she arrived, it began to rain really bad so we went to "the café section" of the dancing school and sat on a couch in the back. It was just like a date <3 :P. Oh, and she asked me why I'm studying Japanese. So I told her the story above and she was like "you are soooo romanticc!":P.

So just a day after the Australian/Japanese girl went to Japan, the Japanese girl who moved to Japan 3 years ago came online on msn(THE FIRST TIME EVERRRR I SAW HER ONLINE ON MSN) with the nickname "IK BEN IN NL!"(I'M IN HOLLAND!) o_O.

Sorry for the über long stories!!

[erised]

I agree that all the times you needed Japanese is a sign that you should continue studying (at least that's how I would take it). I don't know about the girl coming back... but I think the person experiencing the sign knows what it means more than other people who are outside the situation.