Grieving woman walks by her mom's old house, finds a 'sign' waiting for her: 'I never believed...'

When we lose a loved one to death, anything that brings even the slightest amount of hope and makes us feel their presence becomes our safety net — “signs” are one such thing. Smelling the same perfume they used to wear or hearing their favourite song wherever you go can make you feel they are still around, watching over you. Something similar happened with podcaster Samantha Aimes-Costa — who goes by the username @samanthaaimescosta on Instagram — when she passed by her dead mother’s old house and sensed something familiar but out of place.

Finding the courage to face the places, things, and people associated with a deceased loved one is immensely challenging. The happy memories that surrounded those parts of your life are often replaced by the painful ones that follow their absence. Similarly, Samantha could not muster the courage to walk by her mother’s old house ever since her death, ever since she handed over the keys to new owners. But what she found upon reaching there left her stunned and tearful — she who never believed in seeing signs from the deceased, believes she saw one.

When she was strolling outside the gate of her mother’s old bedroom window, she discovered that the new owners had placed a few artworks representing Paris, facing the outside. Samantha was taken aback and felt her mom’s presence around her because Paris was their most special place in the world — moreover, she was going to visit the country “literally” the following day with her husband and her mother’s ashes. She wrote, “I feel like that’s her saying bon voyage.”

According to a survey by Pew Research Center, more than half of the US adult population (53 percent) have reported that a dead loved one visited them in a dream or some other form, about 34 percent said they have felt their presence, and about 15 percent claimed they have communicated with them. In conclusion, approximately 44 percent of the total individuals have experienced at least 1 of the 3 experiences. A study by Catherine Keen and others suggests that bereaved people can often feel the presence of deceased loved ones around them. This helps us understand why countless incidents, like the one that occurred with Samantha, happen to many people around the world. Additionally, a study by Anna Castelnovo and others validates that these “signs” or “feeling their presence” can often be a comforting and helpful occurrence for the bereaved.

After watching the emotional video, people shared their experiences and comforted Samantha. @t5_staffies_andstuff commented, “Want to see another sign she's still with you? Go look in the mirror, because part of her is you,” and @erikazanker expressed, “Oh my gosh — I’m not crying at all! She loves you so much and she sure knows how to show it.” @ammyloo wrote a heartwarming comment: “Mumma Bears never leave their babies. She is with you always. Like I said to you, she wants you to have the best trip and make so many beautiful memories — ‘if you're with you, then for you,’” while @incline_sunsets recalled her own experience, “My best friend/sister died in November and she's left me signs that don't ever leave room for question or doubt.”

You can follow Samantha Aimes-Costa (@samanthaaimescosta) on Instagram for more wholesome content.