Hi there, dreamers and deep thinkers,
It’s been some time since my mother passed, but the connection I feel to her is as alive as ever. People often say that time heals all wounds, but for me, time has simply reshaped them, much like a river carving its path through solid rock. The bond I shared with my mom wasn’t confined to the physical—it was something deeper, something timeless that transcends the boundaries of life and death. And while I can no longer call her or hear her voice, I feel her presence in ways that surprise and comfort me.
This isn’t just wistful longing or sentimentality—it’s real, and I feel it in my core. I’ve spent time exploring this connection through various lenses—science, spirituality, religion, and philosophy—all of which have given me unique insights into what it means to remain connected to someone who has passed on. What I’ve found is that the love we share, the energy we exchange, and the lessons we carry forward create bonds that are unbreakable, even by death.
Energy Never Dies: The Science of Connection
Let’s start with science, which has a fascinating way of explaining the seemingly mystical. Physics teaches us that energy cannot be created or destroyed—it only changes form. My mother’s energy, her essence, didn’t simply disappear when she passed. It shifted, dispersed into the world around me. Perhaps it’s in the sunlight that warms my face, the air that fills my lungs, or even in the spontaneous memories that bubble to the surface of my mind.
Neuroscience offers another layer of understanding. Our brains are incredible organs, encoding emotional experiences so deeply that they become part of our very identity. My mother’s love, her laugh, her scent—they’re all etched into the neural pathways of my brain. When I think of her, those same pathways light up as if she’s right here with me, hand on my shoulder, whispering reassurances in my ear. It’s as though she’s woven into the fabric of who I am, a constant presence that transcends the physical.
Spiritual Echoes: The Soul’s Eternal Dance
Spiritual traditions have long suggested that the soul is eternal, a part of us that continues beyond the physical realm. For centuries, mystics and sages have spoken of a thin veil between this world and the next—a space where our loved ones remain just out of sight but never truly out of reach.
I’ve felt this in quiet moments of stillness, when my thoughts drift to my mother. It’s a sensation I can’t fully articulate, like an invisible hand resting on my heart, or a soft voice in the back of my mind guiding me. Some might call it intuition; I call it connection.
The idea of her soul existing in a realm I cannot yet see brings me profound comfort. In moments of difficulty, I feel her presence as a source of strength and love, like an anchor that grounds me when life’s storms rage. It’s as though she exists now as a part of the greater whole—the universe itself—and her essence continues to flow through everything I see, hear, and feel.
Religion’s Comfort: A Love Beyond Life
Religious teachings also offer solace. In Christianity, the idea of eternal life is a cornerstone of faith. The Bible speaks of a “great cloud of witnesses” in Hebrews 12:1—a community of souls who surround and support us. I like to think of my mother as part of that cloud, watching over me, cheering me on, and perhaps even guiding me in ways I cannot yet understand.
Other traditions, like Buddhism, suggest that love creates karmic ties that bind us across lifetimes. It’s a poetic and comforting idea: my mother and I connected not just in this life but in a cosmic dance that spans time and space. Love, in this sense, is the thread that weaves us together, life after life, in a tapestry that is both eternal and unbroken.
Philosophy: Memory, Meaning, and the Self
Philosophy often wrestles with the nature of existence, memory, and meaning, and it’s here that I’ve found another lens through which to view my connection with my mother. Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor and renowned existentialist, believed that love gives life its ultimate meaning. For me, my mother’s love continues to shape my values, my worldview, and my sense of self.
Even though she’s gone from this physical plane, her influence remains a guiding force. Her teachings—resilience, kindness, the value of humor—are alive in me. Every act of compassion I show, every smile I share, feels like a way of honoring her. It’s as though she lives on through my actions, her presence woven into the choices I make and the way I move through the world.
Existentialists also emphasize the importance of creating meaning in a chaotic universe. For me, that meaning is rooted in the relationship I had—and still have—with my mother. She’s present in the stories I tell about her, the lessons I’ve learned, and the sacred spaces I create in her memory.
Interconnectedness: Everything Is One
As I’ve explored these ideas, one truth has become clear: everything is interconnected. Quantum physics suggests that particles once linked remain entangled, no matter how far apart they are. This concept resonates deeply with me. If the universe itself is a web of connections, then my bond with my mother is one of its threads, eternal and unbreakable.
In many ways, her essence is in the air I breathe, the stars I see, and the life I live. We are all part of the same vast, infinite whole. Her love didn’t vanish when she passed—it transformed, merging with the universal rhythm that connects all things.
Everyday Miracles: Feeling Her Presence
Beyond science, spirituality, religion, and philosophy, there are the everyday moments that remind me of my mother’s presence. It’s in the little things—the smell of her favorite perfume on the breeze, the sound of a song she loved playing unexpectedly, or the feel of her laughter echoing in my own.
Sometimes, it’s subtler than that—a burst of intuition that feels like her guidance, or a sense of calm when I need it most. These moments aren’t coincidences to me; they’re love, finding its way through the cracks of my grief, reminding me that she’s never truly gone.
Love Evolves, but It Never Ends
So, how do I reconcile all these perspectives? I see them as pieces of a larger truth: the bond I share with my mother hasn’t been broken. It’s changed, deepened, and taken on new forms, but it’s as real as the earth beneath my feet.
She is in me, around me, and perhaps even in the spaces between my thoughts. Together, we continue to walk this path, her presence as much a part of me as my own heartbeat.
To anyone reading this who has experienced loss, know that love doesn’t end—it evolves. It transforms, it deepens, and it finds new ways to reach you. The connection is real, and it’s yours to cherish, always.
Stay curious.
With love,
April
Cognitive Psycho
