Let's assume for a moment that reincarnation exists and that we do come back to earth and live as someone else. On your return, would you like to be with the exact same people as in this life?

I always liked the idea that souls stay near each other in each life. That my husband might be my brother next time, and my grandma might be my baby, and one of my best girlfriends might be my sister.

Depends. Will I remember them?

If ‘yes’, then yes.
If ‘no’, then no.

@cookieman if not able to remember as we know it, then at least a “knowing” connection!

@JLeslie I like that idea too. I also like the phrase “my grandma might be my baby”.

It’s a dilemma because I can’t imagine not wanting to have the children I have but I would not want to be in the marriage I was in for so long. As for my parents – meh.

Sounds enticing, but let me turn this question on its head. Suppose someone were to say to you, “The people in your life now have never been with you in previous lives. Would you prefer that the old ones from your past life had been recycled into this one instead of this current bunch?”

For me, the answer to the above would be an unequivocal “No!”. But it’s exactly the same question as yours, only looked at from a different time perspective.

@thorninmud interesting…..I want these I have, especially parents and brother in the next 20.000 lives!

@ZEPHYRA: If there’s a “knowing connection”, then sure. I’d like that.

I’d also like to come back as a Bassett hound.

Actually, even if you won’t remember the person in your next life, you can still give a “yes” or “no” response. If the person in question is loving, caring, and exceptional in every which way, then I would say a definitive “yes.” Even if I won’t remember making this decision, it would positively affect my next life by guaranteeing that I will close to a good person.

My daughter yes, everyone else no.
I’m a out with the old and in with the new type.
If I didn’t like you much in this life I don’t want a repeat performance thanks. lol

I don’t think it would make any difference to me unless I had awareness that we had been together before and could learn from the errors we have made in previous lives. I would love to be able to believe that my parents, my children and my husband were with me previously and more importantly, would be in the future.

Most of the people in my life are still in my life because I love them. If I didn’t care for them, I’d oust them. So sure, I’d love to be surrounded by the same loved ones again, only I would like to do so in the form of a beloved house cat again.

@WWfC: Exactly. All the love, none of the responsibility.

Mmm…no. I want to try it out with new people.

Great question. The answer would be no. It says a lot about the choices I made in life. (As well as the choices I didn’t have).

It wouldn’t matter to me. I’d be so grateful to be alive again, I’d be happy there was anyone around. Beggars can’t be choosers.

I would want everything to be the same way. To quote “Clarence,” It’s been a wonderful life.

No. That would mean I did shit wrong this time around.

I like @fightfightfight‘s answer, and I like @JLeslie‘s answer also, I’ll go with those 2!

I don’t think my present life’s behavior would earn me a trip back as a person. I’d have to go several (or more) incarnations, doing better each time, before I got to come back as a human. I’m not sure who or what determines that..

I like the idea of reincarnation. It appeals to me.

I have been called an old soul and have people I have a connection with that transcends circumstance. Do I want these people in my life? Yes.

Do I want everyone in my life in my next. No.

Do I want to meet and connect with others in my ‘next life’? Absolutely.

By the way great question!

Lord, I hope not. I don’t think I’ve been enough of an asshole to merit that.

Some people believe that we continue to interact with the same souls until we work through what is necessary. A friend of our family believes she has been married to her husband in many lives and they keep repeating this relationship because they cannot come to total peace with each other.

I don’t want to come back. I want reunions with the people I used to know.