Don't worry Linh, that's always the way it is. There's only ever a few at a given time open to what quite literally amounts to a very different view of our total reality.

It's a finely balanced thing for most of us anyway. Some of us have had some esoteric experience that's at the time been very convincing as to the fact that death is not the end, but I suspect that even with that we have our 'oh sh1t' moments too. I do anyway. The thinking aspect of mind has an amazing ability to twist thing around in our darker moments.

Working with others in the way you describe is not easy, and takes a lot of skill. Many have decided in absence of even the experience some of us have that (unsurprisingly) death is the end. As a view it's got its downsides, but also some big advantages. It's no surprise they are reluctant to accept what in truth may only be somebody else's recently acquired beliefs.

Trouble is that over time denying death becomes part of the ego - their belief system. This can ultimately cause some very big problems in their lives, but it can work for a long time and they really do not want to have that view disturbed. Trying to share an alternative view basically does this, and will if they feel threatened enough generate anger and hostility.

So if you're going to work in this scene you have to tread softly. Maybe demonstrate the validity of the path you are on by its effects on you. Don't push your views - it just causes people to reinforce the cocoon or shell of beliefs they have built around themselves. Some you'll get through to, others you won't. Inevitably the time will come when death is around. In many cases it will undermine people's belief systems and create the opportunity to get through.

I posted some Buddhist links on relating to death in everyday life above. (Pema Chodron) if it comes down to it somebody like Elisabeth Kubler Ross in 'On Death and Dying' has some very practical things to say about helping people a little closer to the wire who are facing some of these ultimate realities....

we've shifted our focus on this thread over to "when are our families and friends going to cut us a little slack?"

I recall the question came up some months ago, a member who seldom comes to visit showed up and asked why he cannot tell them about his retrievals and obes without getting laughed out of town.

my conjectures are because we get laughed out of town, or rejected, or not listened to, or blown off is because sort of like Ian suggested, theres one of us in every family, in every marriage, in every office setting, in every neighborhood, theres an odd person. I call it a plant. like you're supposed to be there, even if it's hard to be this one who is odd man out.
In other times, some that are odd, they used to get put away somewhere or burned at
the stake in more serious type historical happenings.

its for sure we are all learning stuff, whatever focus we are in, whatever profession, we are always learning how to get along, how to open our minds and hearts to more wonders, greater areas of our being here on physical plane, limited plane, but we have some great times here nonetheless.

heres my story about Larry. he was a good friend. we had an on and off relationship for 8 years. I had brought him into my life, I thought to be my lover. things didn't turn out quite as expected, so the on/off. Larry was totally left brained. I was the example of total right brained. Nevertheless we had excellent left brained conversations and sometimes ended up in stitches of laughter for our differing perspectives.

Larry said I needed to stop thinking about death so much. obviously, there was something wrong with me. He said I treated life as if it were a sentence I had to carry out. his favorite saying was when I greeted him at the door "Another day in Paradise!"

Right Larry.  Yet Larry taught me a few things. He said happiness was a choice. He said love was also good business practice. I hated to hear that. I made him buy me some flowers.  I also had some good points to teach him.
all this beside the point I'm making. or trying to make. Larry avoided the questions of what happens to us after death. He said he would just wait and see; he was having too much fun instructing the whole world how to run their businesses in a logical and organized manner. which was ok. He was a speaker. but not popular. the main thing he said when speaking, was that one should go thru life never forcing an issue on another. so Larry was spreading that ideal, the same as it is in heaven, no guides, no teachers or helpers on the other side can force an issue, but everything is done in complete gentleness when the person is ready to release an error of thought, as in a retrieval circumstance. like free will. free will is exercised by all.

so Larry up and dies. All those years I knew him, I never got to talk much to him as Larry was a speaker. He did most the talking. When he listened to me, I could see he was trying to hear what I said very hard, and these are the times we would bust out laughing sometimes if I could get my viewpoint across. like a few aha moments.

So he left and he told me he was dying. he was afraid he said, in a dream/obe, he was afraid all his hard work and studies he would have to leave now, he asked me to carry on for him in a way, the symbols were book shelves lined with many books, for he was quite the left brained reader and gained much. He liked Ann Rand type of material too.

he was like a politician. I used to say Larry, what I heard about politicians, you don't wanna hear! naturally he's curious. I tell him politicians are the last refuge of a scroundral. haha. picked that up from a song.
I forget his retort. probably made him go out and buy some more flowers for me!   

so he dies. One day he returns to me in his spirit. I was in the kitchen not expecting to hear from him from the other side, I am not a medium. I hear in my head his tone of voice, just like I heard my husband's voice when he passed on. guess what he said first?

Howdy howdy! These are the words he used to say in greeting me, just before he would say it's another day in paradise. Larry was habitual to say this.
So I sent telepathy back. I tried some love. he sounded his tone a little sad. I tried to perk him. I told him I missed our emails. I had tried to get him to do alternative healing stuff and not die. he wouldn't do that. so I said I missed him which I did.
after I said that, he said back "you were right. I maybe should have studied this area of transition while I had the opportunity." I'm sorry I made you feel bad that you look at this area so much, unlike me, who was busy fixing the world.

and thats my little story of Larry. I saw him a couple more times on the other side in dreams. One time he said he was looking at our relationship and saw why he was drawn to me and why I was drawn to him.  for a type of balance to occur in our different belief systems and focus points.
he said it was a big awakening that he had not seen this while here. then another time I saw him sleeping. I took that image to mean he was doing a soul relaxation and reflection period and I could not disturb him at that point.

I grew to love him but not as a woman loves a man, it was like fellow journeyers, brother and sister, and I know I will see him again.

love, alysia

just keep being your self Ian. I don't worry about Larry, he's ok, he used to give himself to others also. a lot his talks were free. he said he had this awesome dream once. he was sitting under a tree, all around him were his pupils and he was with much wisdom. I think he's going to make that dream a reality now.
I don't know how u feel about yourself, but I have greatly benefitted from some of your posts, if only to enjoy reading them, thats a benefit to me.
then I'm not the only one either.
love, alysia